Two more residents of Chatham-Kent have died from COVID-19.
Chatham-Kent Public Health Spokesperson Jeff Moco said the latest deaths involve a man in his 40s and a woman in her 70s. Both passed away at the Chatham hospital.
The total number of COVID-19 deaths in the municipality is now up to 40 with the new deaths reported on Friday. Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby said many of these deaths are unnecessary and likely would not have happened if people were vaccinated.
"I'm sorry that we are seeing mortality. John Donne said any man's death diminishes me and I have sympathy with that," said Colby
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance CEO Lori Marshall said the deaths take a toll on hospital staff and she really feels for the families.
"Not only to the families but I can tell that each death in the hospital is something that is very hard for the staff and the physicians to experience," Marshall said. "We definitely send our condolences and thoughts to the families of those individuals who we have lost, not only in the last few days but throughout this entire pandemic."
The oldest victim of COVID-19 in the municipality so far was a 101-year-old unvaccinated man who died in the Chatham hospital recently, according to Colby.
The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is reporting 32 COVID-19 patients in the hospital with 14 of them being treated primarily for the virus. The others were admitted for other illnesses but then tested positive for COVID-19. Hospital officials said 11 of the 14 are unvaccinated and three are in the ICU. CKHA said the youngest patient so far has been a 12-year-old.
There are 13 active COVID-19 outbreaks in Chatham-Kent with a total of 141 cases. Most of the outbreaks are in long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and group homes. The largest two are at Hudson Manor Retirement Home in Tilbury, which has 29 cases and Park Street Place Retirement Home in Dresden, which has 23 cases.