By Jenna Cocullo, Local Journalism Initiative
Green is a good colour on Chatham-Kent, and one that we are trending toward with lower COVID-19 rates.
On Thursday, CK Public Health reported two new cases of COVID-19, with a cumulative total of 486. However, more people were declared recovered, three, bringing the active total down to 28.
No Chatham-Kent residents are hospitalized in the local hospitals, however, one person who lives outside the municipality is in the ICU. The death toll remains at three.
Dr. David Colby, Chatham-Kent’s medical officer of health, said data suggests the municipality can soon be back in the green zone as positivity rates are low and there are very few acquisitions within Chatham-Kent.
At least two of the currently four active outbreaks will likely be declared over by the end of this week, he added.
“So they are all under control and settling in nicely. So I can’t say what the province is going to do in terms of that, but the (Ontario) Chief Medical Officer of Health consults with me before the decision is made and I would have every hope that we can get back into green before too long.”
A green Christmas?
Colby said he has been “hammering away” at local Christmas guidelines for the last few weeks. At a press briefing on Thursday, he reiterated local and provincial warnings that large crowds, especially indoor gatherings, will increase the risk of spreading of COVID-19.
“And this is the last thing we want in the holiday season, is to get into further and further trouble,” Colby said.
The number of unlinked cases, meaning cases that cannot be traced backed to close contacts or a specific outbreak, has remained at zero for the past few weeks, according to Colby.
“My team and I are able to trace all cases and it’s easier to handle that than it is to be worried about random encounters in the public areas,” he said. “I think that kind of gets across the spirit that I’m worried about. And small is better, and of course physical distancing and hand hygiene precautions.”
On Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford asked Ontario residents to celebrate the holidays with their own household and to connect with other friends or family virtually. Those who live alone can join another household.
Technically, the provincial guidelines are not written into law, but Colby wants residents not only to look at the “letter of the law and ways it can be circumvented, but rather the “spirit” of the rule.
“And the spirit of the rule is to keep everybody safe,” he said. “So rather than worrying about whether the rules are being followed, we all have to ask ourselves, what is the safest course of action for all concerned in this particular scenario?”
