The number of active COVID-19 cases in Chatham-Kent is down to 116.
That's a big drop from Monday when the active case count jumped up to 140.
The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit (CPKHU) reports that there were five new cases of the virus on Tuesday, but 29 resolved cases.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby said the recent rise in cases is not a surprise.
"This surge that we've got, which we call the fourth wave, it was predicted by the Science Table's projections weeks and weeks ago, "said Dr. Colby. "So, this should not be a surprise to anybody."
Dr. Colby added that the virus is spreading very easily within families.
"Most of our cases are still linked to other cases, and to me that's very, very important," said Dr. Colby. "I get really nervous when we start getting numbers that we can't find a source for."
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 outbreak on the Medicine Unit at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) has been declared over. The outbreak on the Rehabilitation /Stroke Unit, which was declared on Saturday, September 11th, is still active.
CKHA said Infection Prevention and Control measures remain in place, and there will be no visitors/care partners allowed for patients on the Rehabilitation/Stroke Unit while the outbreak remains active.
The Health Alliance is also reporting that there are 16 COVID-19 patients in hospital, three of which are fully vaccinated against the virus, but the rest are not. Four of those patients are in Intensive Care, and six staff members are off due to the virus, or because they were exposed to it.
And some good news when it comes to vaccination rates in Chatham-Kent.
"We've popped over the 80 per cent mark in first doses, 73 per cent in second doses, so those numbers are inching up," said Dr. Colby. "The provincial target is 90 and 90, so we have a long way to go, but hopefully we'll get there."
And despite a recent outbreak at Praise Fellowship Church in Chatham, Dr. Colby said they will be able to use the church as a polling station in next Monday's federal election.
"It's not the building, it's the church congregation where we're having a problem and spread within the congregation, so it's person-to-person spread," said Dr. Colby. "I don't have any concerns about the polling station being there."
