Chatham-Kent’s top doctor says the spread of COVID-19 that began in a Blenheim church is “coming along nicely.”
Dr. David Colby says he’s not prepared to declare the outbreak over at this point.
“Definitely it is slowing down and coming under control, and that’s been really the major driver of numbers in Chatham-Kent,” Colby says. “When that is declared over and everybody comes off the active list, I think we’ll go down to single digit active case numbers again.”
Colby says the chain of transmissions is now into its 5th generation.
Public Health inspectors will look at the physical environment and talk to the church leaders before the building can reopen to the public.
“The leadership has reported that they were following the recommended guidelines,” Colby says. “I’m not sure where things broke down there, but our investigation continues.”
Meantime, Public Health Unit is working on a graphic to release to the public to explain the line of transmissions from the church through the community once the outbreak is over.
There are currently 25 active cases of COVID-19 in Chatham-Kent with no new infections reported on Thursday and one recovery.
Ten of the active cases are linked to the place of worship, six were transmitted through close contact transmissions, five are connected to the congregate setting outbreak, two are pending, and one remains unknown.
