Unlike several areas in the southwestern Ontario region, no doctors or nurses working on the front lines in Chatham-Kent have tested positive for COVID-19.
The good news came from Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby at a weekly media conference call on Thursday morning. Some communities worldwide have had doctors, nurses, and other front line workers get the virus since the pandemic started and some have died from it. Chatham-Kent Health Alliance has been the focus of many community-driven efforts to get personal protective equipment for the nurses and doctors.
CKHA CEO Lori Marshall said last week the hospital has approximately a two week supply of PPE.
CKHA Chief Nursing Executive Lisa Northcott also told reporters spirits are high at the hospital because of all the community support. Northcott said there is no significant sign of stress or burnout because Chatham-Kent has handled the pandemic so well but there is support for the hospital workers if they need it.
"Everyone is doing quite well," said Northcott.
She said there is a designated helpline to support the front line heroes who may be struggling with stress and burnout. She added more may be done to deal with potential Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after the crisis slows down but CKHA hasn't planned that far ahead yet.
"There will be support like the helpline and we'll probably have some on-site help as well as people try to get back to somewhat normal operations," she said.
Northcott added CKHA is waiting for provincial direction to resume elective and non-urgent surgeries.
CK Public Health reported three new COVID-19 cases on Thursday afternoon to bring the total to 40 with 19 people recovered and still only one death. Dr. Colby is also giving more information about the six news cases of COVID-19 reported by the health unit on Wednesday. He said they are all from a single workplace but he can't name the spot. Colby added CK Public Health is still investigating the cluster and everyone involved has been isolated. He does say the cluster is not from any Community Living homes and added those homes that have been infected previously are recovering well.
The public health unit and CKHA are also ramping up swab testing for the vulnerable population at long term care facilities after getting direction from the province. Testing for approximately 2,000 people should start in the next day or two. Dr. Colby told the news conference that group homes are also under consideration for the priority testing. He said public health and hospital officials are still working out the details and all of the testing should take a couple of weeks to complete.
Colby added that there are no outbreaks at any long term care home in CK, although there are outbreaks at several nursing homes across Ontario.
As well, Colby said testing has a very quick turnaround now because there are two laboratories in London and same-day results are now the norm. He added there is currently no backlog of tests and pending results in the daily statistics posted by CKPH are usually tests done late the previous day. Dr. Colby said testing is being prioritized by the health unit to focus on their investigations instead of random testing to get a snapshot of the community.
As far as when emergency orders will be relaxed and the province will get back to normal, Dr. Colby said not until daily COVID-19 cases drop below 200 province-wide. Ontario is currently reporting roughly 500 a day.
"We've got a ways to go before we open up," Colby said.
Colby said when that day comes, the province will gradually open for business.
Mayor Darrin Canniff said he is very proud of his doctors and nurses, the medical officer of health, CKHA leadership, the entire health unit, and first responders for handling COVID-19 so well to keep the number of cases low and thanks them for their hard work.
