The number of active COVID-19 cases in Chatham-Kent continues to drop.
Chatham-Kent Public Health reported nine new cases Thursday, along with 12 recoveries, dropping the number of actives cases to 101.
No deaths were reported Thursday. The most recent COVID-19 fatality in the area was reported last Thursday when public health said a woman in her 50s passed away from the virus. It’s was the third COVID-19 death in the municipality in about a week after zero virus-related deaths since June.
The local death toll remains at 20.
As of Thursday, nine patients were in the hospital for COVID-19, with five of those individuals in the ICU and the remaining four in the medical unit.
According to Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby, there are currently seven outbreaks across the area, with no new ones being reported. Of the seven outbreaks, six of them are in schools and one is in a long-term care home.
"As more and more students get vaccinated, I would expect substantial benefits to this problem as we move on," said Colby.
Lambton Kent District School Board Director of Education John Howitt said a very small percentage of the schools have more than one case of the COVID-19 virus.
"Yes, we do have some outbreaks in some isolated areas, but they're not massive outbreaks in the double digits," said Howitt. "Given the populations in those schools, that's good news. The cohorting system is working."
In Chatham-Kent, adults have an 84 per cent first-dose coverage rate and a full vaccination rate of 78 per cent. Youth aged 12 to 17 have a 71 per cent first-dose coverage rate and a full vaccination rate of 60 per cent.
"It's extremely important to get everybody vaccinated," said Colby. "The vaccines are safe and they are fully tested. There are only six cases of the 55 million vaccinations administered that resulted in death. When you look at that statistic, it's a lot safer to get vaccinated than to get into a car and take a ride."
With approximately one-third of Chatham-Kent’s population still yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19, health officials are cautioning a safe Thanksgiving this weekend.
Health officials are encouraging the public to avoid closed spaces with poor ventilation, crowded places with many people nearby and close conversations.
People are asked to social distance, wear masks when possible, and use hand sanitizer.