First Confirmed case of COVID-19 in Chatham-Kent
CHATHAM-KENT: March 18, 2020– The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit (CKPHU) has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in the municipality of Chatham-Kent.
The affected individual had a travel history where they contracted the illness. The patient arrived at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s (CKHA) Emergency Department, where they were safely screened and tested for the illness. The patient has been isolated at home since. All hospital protocols were followed and managed well by staff.
CKHA’s infection prevention and control protocols are in place at all times and are currently heightened with screening points for all patients, visitors, staff and physicians. CKHA is closely monitoring COVID-19 along with CKPHU and are confident the plan we have developed through our, Emergency Department, emerging COVID-19 Assessment Centre and across the broader community.
CKHA advises individuals to please continue to monitor their own health, practice proper hand hygiene often, avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth and to practice social distancing.
If you are concerned that you may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please do one of the following:
- Contact your primary care provider
- Call Telehealth Ontario at 1.866.797.0000
- Call the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit COVID-19 intake line at 519.355.1071 x 1900
Please DO NOT present to CKHA’s Emergency Department unless you are acutely ill.
If you have fever and cough but otherwise:
- You are able to breathe reasonably normal, outside of coughing spells,
- You are able to drink liquids and,
- You are able to move about your home reasonably normal,
You DO NOT need to come to the hospital. CKHA asks that you stay home and isolate yourself for 14 days to prevent the spread of infection and make sure that you maintain adequate hydration.
Planning for COVID-19 has been underway at CKHA for several weeks and has heightened since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Since then, CKHA has implemented its, visitor restrictions, entrance restrictions, screening points and several measures to protect staff and physicians within the hospital’s daily operations at both sites.
To read previous news releases in regards to COVID-19 and CKHA’s response, click here.
COVID-19 Resources:
Public Health Agency of Canada: 1-833-784-4397
Ministry of Health: 1-866-797-0000
Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit (CKPHU) COVID-19 intake line: 519.355.1071 x 1900 or email covid19@chatham-kent.ca.
CKPHU Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates: https://ckphu.com/2020/01/novel-coronavirus-update/
Canadians travelling abroad are encouraged to consult the Travel Health Notice for China on www.travel.gc.ca.
World Health Organization (WHO)
Video: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Advice for the public: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
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About CKHA
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is a 200 bed community hospital, serving the residents of Chatham and rural Kent including Walpole Island and Delaware First Nations. Formed in 2018, CKHA is committed to delivering quality and safe care at its two sites in Chatham and Wallaceburg. CKHA collaborates with other partners to deliver care across its community. CKHA’s dedicated team is comprised of approximately 1,400 staff, 200 physicians and 300 volunteers. CKHA provides a full range of programs, services and specialties from internal medicine and surgery to women & children’s and critical care; it is designated a schedule one facility under the Ministry of Health and cares for tens of thousands of inpatients, outpatients and emergency patients annually. CKHA is equipped with state of the art diagnostics and technology to support its varied programs. CKHA’s vision: Together, growing a healthier community, underscores a movement to improving the population’s health. Grounded by its values “CKHA CARES” (Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, Safety), CKHA commits to continuously improve the patient experience in partnership with patients, families and caregivers. For more information, click here to read CKHA’s Fast Facts.
To arrange a media interview please contact:
Emily Field, Communications Specialist
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
519.352.6401 x 5326
efield@ckha.on.ca
