A slight rise in the seven-day average for new COVID cases in Chatham-Kent.

Public Health figures show the rolling average has inched up to 21 cases a day, compared to 17 last Friday. Overall, the agency is reporting 72 new cases today with the reminder that any case numbers are an underestimate due to restrictions on testing.

There are four active outbreaks, including a new outbreak at Wallaceburg Retirement Residence with 15 linked cases since Friday. Public Health is also keeping tabs on a group home, Maple City Retirement Residence, and the Meadows of Wheatley.

20 COVID patients are being treated at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, six of whom were admitted primarily because of the virus.

There are two COVID patients receiving the highest levels of care, one in ICU and one in the hospital’s progressive care unit.

Across Ontario, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has dipped to 849, 279 of whom are being treated in intensive care.