'Our numbers are steadily falling': Chatham-Kent seeing COVID-19 cases decline
“We have been one of the hot spots in Ontario. There’s no secret about that,“ says Dr. David Colby, Chathan-Kent’s medical officer of health.
COVID case rates in Chatham-Kent are still among the highest in Ontario, but the numbers are declining.
“We seem to be past the peak and are getting this wave under control,” says Colby
In a media conference call Thursday, Dr. Colby says although the numbers remain high, they will begin to trend downward.
“We are improving by leaps and bounds. Our active cases this morning are at 68. We were at 140. So they are rapidly dropping and improving and that’s exactly the direction we want to go,” says Colby.
With talks of the province loosening restrictions in Step 3, Colby is fine if businesses go back to full capacity, as long as everyone follows the rules.
“If our numbers hadn’t started dropping in CK that would make me very nervous indeed, but our numbers are steadily falling down,” says Colby. “As long as they maintain the vaccination provision in place that’s a reasonable step.”
In healthcare, the deadline for vaccination is two weeks away. According to CKHA CEO, Lori Marshall, 38 employees are still non-compliant with the policy for Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
“We are sitting at 89% fully vaccinated and 7% partially vaccinated and will be by October 31. So 96% of our staff and we continue to work with those at this stage who have not indicated their intent to be vaccinated.” 78% of Chatham-Kent residents are fully vaccinated. Dr. Colby feels that’s still low, but says they continue to work at increasing their vaccination rate.
“It takes us about a week running pop-up clinics to edge that up by one percent a week,” says Colby. “I would hope we would reach the 80% in about two weeks.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.