The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit is reporting two more deaths linked to COVID-19.
The deaths were reported Tuesday morning. Caress Carpenter of the health unit’s communications team said a man in his 60s and a man in his 70s both passed away at a hospital outside of Chatham-Kent. It’s unknown if they were vaccinated against the virus.
The local health unit has now logged a total of 27 deaths linked to COVID-19 since the pandemic started.
After an increase in new cases over the weekend, the health unit listed just three new cases on Tuesday, along with 20 resolved cases. The active case count in Chatham-Kent is now at 145.
The region’s total case count since the start of the pandemic stands at 3,375.
There are six outbreaks across the municipality, including five at elementary schools. The latest was announced Monday at St. Angela Merici Catholic School in Chatham.
The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is also reporting that 12 patients are being treated for COVID-19 in the hospital.
In Chatham-Kent, adults have an 87.4 per cent first-dose coverage rate and a full vaccination rate of 84.9 per cent. Youth aged 12 to 17 have a 75 per cent first-dose coverage rate and a full vaccination rate of 71.4 per cent. Children aged 5 to 11 have a 26.1 per cent first-dose coverage rate and a full vaccination rate of 1.8 per cent.
The province reported 3,453 new cases Tuesday as well as a new vaccine milestone. On Tuesday morning, Health Minister Christine Elliott said on social media that about two million Ontario residents have received their booster shot so far.
