First COVID-19 Related Death at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
CHATHAM-KENT: Saturday, April 4, 2020 – Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is reporting its first death in connection to COVID-19. Our collective thoughts are with the patient’s family at this difficult time.
The patient was a female in her 80s with an exposure related to travel. The patient arrived via EMS to CKHA’s Emergency Department where she was screened and tested for the illness. Following this, the patient was admitted to hospital immediately due to severity of symptoms. As expected, the care team followed appropriate infection control protocols and practices throughout the patient’s treatment, including appropriate patient isolation, hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE).
“We extend our sincerest condolences to the family of the deceased patient. This death is a tragedy and underscores the seriousness of this pandemic,” said Lori Marshall, President and CEO, CKHA. “I want to further assure our community that CKHA remains well-prepared to care for COVID-19 patients but we still need your help. Please stay at home if you can, practice physical distancing, proper cough etiquette, frequent hand hygiene and self-isolation for 14 days if you have travelled out of country.”
COVID-19 Resources:
Public Health Agency of Canada: 1-833-784-4397
Ministry of Health: 1-866-797-0000
CK Public Health Unit COVID-19 intake line: 519.355.1071 x 1900 or email covid19@chatham-kent.ca.
CK Public Health Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates: https://ckphu.com/2020/01/novel-coronavirus-update/
Canadians travelling abroad are encouraged to consult the Travel Health Notices 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:
Fannie Vavoulis, Director, Communications
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
fvavoulis@ckha.on.ca
