The COVID-19 death toll in Chatham-Kent has reached 70.
The most recent death related to the virus was reported by Chatham-Kent Public Health on Friday in its most recent update on COVID-19 trends in the muncipality.
The health unit also reported an increase of 73 new COVID-19 infections since the last update on Wednesday, bringing the daily average to 38 cases per day. Health officials have maintained that the data is not an accurate representation of the number of daily cases due to provincial testing restrictions.
A total of eight COVID-19 outbreaks remain in effect in Chatham-Kent, including 65 cases linked to Chatham Retirement Resort and another 60 linked to Copper Terrace nursing home in Chatham. Outbreaks are also in effect for Village on the Ridge in Ridgetown, Village on the Thames in Chatham, Oaks Retirement Village in Wallaceburg, and three group homes.
There are currently 29 patients with COVID-19 at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, 12 of whom are being treated primarily for the virus. Of those patients, six are being treated in critical care beds in the hospital’s Progressive Care Unit.