The top doctor in Chatham-Kent thinks the region will go to the Red-Control level of the province's Response Framework on Monday because local COVID-19 cases have increased by quite a margin recently.
Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby said there have been roughly 100 new cases in the area over the past month. Colby reminds people that the Red-Control level comes with stricter rules on gatherings, such as a limit of only five people indoors and nobody outside of a household is allowed in for get-togethers.
On Wednesday morning, the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit reported a new COVID-19 outbreak at a local place of worship and has only given sparse details about the outbreak because of privacy issues. The public health unit said there are three confirmed cases among the congregation and contact tracing has started to identify and test close contacts.
Jeff Moco with Chatham-Kent Public Health Communications said the unidentified place of worship has voluntarily closed down since being notified of a positive case in attendance, and they have been advised by public health officials to stay closed until further notice. However, it is still operating with virtual services.
"At this time we are not reporting the specific name of the facility as per our privacy policy and we will defer to the location to speak further on it should they wish to," said Moco.
The three outbreaks at Copper Terrace long-term care home in Chatham and the dialysis unit and lab services at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance continue. A staff member tested positive at Copper Terrace and the hospital in Chatham has a total of five cases.
Public health officials also reported four new COVID-19 cases in Chatham-Kent on Wednesday and nine resolved cases for a total of 65 active cases.
Meantime, the Chatham-Kent Vaccination Team is getting kudos for a job well done. Almost 15,000 doses have been administered across Chatham-Kent as of March 17. The local public health unit was also recognized last week as being top in the country for vaccinating its population.
"We have made incredible progress," said Dr. Colby. "I don't take personal credit for this but I'm very, very thankful to the incredible team that put all of this together."
Director of Public Health Teresa Bendo said first doses have been completed for residents of long term care, high risk retirement homes, and Indigenous Elder care homes in Chatham-Kent and second doses are nearing completion for residents of long term care, high risk retirement homes, and Indigenous Elder care homes in Chatham-Kent. Bendo added first doses have begun for staff and essential care givers of long term care homes and high risk retirement homes, alternative level of care patients in hospital, and health care workers in accordance with Ministry of Health guidance.
Adults age 80 and up are also getting their shots and individuals age 75 and up started getting immunized against the virus last week. Staff, residents, essential care givers in other retirement homes and other congregate living homes for seniors and all Indigenous adults are also getting their doses.
Colby emphasized the goal is still to get all Ontarians vaccinated by the end of June if everything goes well with the vaccine supply and delivery.
As part of its mobile clinic strategy, the Vaccination Team also continues to work with Ska:na Family Learning Centre, the United Way and others to plan pop up clinics for the homelessness as well as First Nation, Metis, and Inuit Peoples.
On March 8, the province requested the time interval between the second dose of COVID-19 vaccines be extended up to 16 weeks. However, Bendo said residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, Elder Care Lodges and Assisted Living facilities who are at the greatest risk of both exposure to COVID-19 and serious illness and death will continue to receive vaccine at the intervals described in the product recommendations, which is 21 and 28 days for Pfizer and Moderna.
The local public health unit will hold a virtual grand opening of the mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the John Bradley Convention Centre in Chatham on Thursday at 1 p.m. The event will be hosted on the Chatham-Kent Public Health Facebook page.