If Chatham-Kent continues on its current path, we could be back into the green, at least as far as the province’s COVID restrictions go.
Dr. David Colby says the number of active cases of the virus has been trending downward over the last few days.
“They’re not at the trigger limit for moving into Orange, and in fact at the moment not at the trigger limit in terms of new cases for moving into Yellow had we been able to stay Green,” Dr. Colby says. “Our positivity rate is low, our local R-value in our health unit is below 1 for the first time in a long time, which means that there are very few new acquisitions.”
The number of active cases has dipped to 18 with 11 recoveries and just one new infection announced by Public Health Friday afternoon. There are still three active workplace outbreaks and one outbreak in a Chatham elementary school.
On Friday, the province moved Windsor-Essex into the Red-Control level of restrictions, and Lambton County has joined Chatham-Kent in the Yellow-Protect level.
“I can’t say what the province is going to do, but the Chief Medical Officer of Health consults with me before a decision is made,” Dr. Colby says. “I would have every hope that we can get back into Green before too long.”
With rising case numbers in surrounding communities like Windsor-Essex and London, Dr. Colby says Chatham-Kent residents have to keep their guard up.
You can visit Ontario.ca/covidresponse for the full list of public health region classifications.
