By Jenna Cocullo, Local Journalism Initiative
Another Chatham-Kent resident has passed away from COVID-19.
CK Public Health officials said a Chatham-Kent woman, in her 50s, passed away in hospital in Windsor.
Eleven new cases of COVID-19 were reported on Wednesday afternoon by CK Public Health, along with the death of one individual. Seventy-seven cases remain active, three of whom are hospitalized.
Chatham-Kent’s death rate, 0.67 per cent, remains the lowest in the region.
In southwest Ontario, Middlesex-London has had the highest death rate at more than eight per cent, followed by Sarnia-Lambton with 7.8 per cent.
Despite the high number of cases, the Windsor-Essex COVID-19 death rate remains relatively low at 3.02 per cent. The provincial and national averages both sit between seven and eight per cent.
To date, Chatham-Kent has seen a total of 299 positive COVID-19 cases.
Five of the active cases are associated with workplace outbreaks. Four are with a workplace in Chatham-Kent and one is associated with a workplace outside Chatham-Kent.
CK Public Health officials confirmed the workplace is not open to the public. Public Health does not disclose the town or name of the workplace when there is no public risk.
Chatham-Kent surpassed York Region Public Health, and is now fifth in the province for the highest rate of COVID-19 per 100,000 residents, according to Ontario Public Health data.
Chatham-Kent’s rate of infection sits at 275 per 100,000 residents. The Windsor-Essex region has seen the highest infection rate, with 551 cases per 100,000 residents.
The “vast vast majority” of new cases are linked to defined risk groups, such as the Low-German Speaking community which recently had a surge of cases throughout southwest Ontario, according to Dr. David Colby, Chatham-Kent’s medical officer of health.
When asked if the recent surge in cases have changed his mind about masks, Colby said he is feeling pressure to make them mandatory, “and I may be undertaking that.”
READ MORE: Mask petition sent to council; mayor stands behind Colby
My respects to the family. I wonder though, what other health issues she had that could have contributed to her demise.
Funny how the rest of my comment was edited. So much for freedom of speech and encouraging people to use their critical thinking skills.