With the lock down in effect across Ontario we are all hoping to see the number of new cases going down, but Chatham-Kent’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. David Colby says that’s not the case…yet.
“We will not see any levelling or decreases for at least another week from the lockdown,” Colby says, noting we likely won’t start to see the benefit of our collective action for another couple weeks.
Dr. Colby is concerned with the numbers he sees coming out of Windsor-Essex and admits he could see a similar pattern developing here up, but says we’re still a ways from that.
“I think they are in a crisis,” Colby says. “They have appealed for assistance to other health units and we’re all doing what we can, but with our own cases at a record high and record numbers of new cases, we’re I think on a similar trajectory, but earlier on.
As of the latest numbers reported on Monday, Chatham-Kent has 125 active cases, nine outbreaks, and two local residents being treated for the virus in hospital.
The majority of active cases are household or close contacts of previously reported cases, and several are outbreak-related, but also a growing number without a known exposure.
Public Health says the main source of our local cases appears to be close contact from indoor gatherings over the holidays, often with people from high prevalence jurisdictions.