CK Public Health
435 Grand Ave W N7L 3Z4 Chatham, ON, Canada

Saturday December 26 at 12:01 a.m. we enter a province-wide shutdown with the rest of Ontario. This shutdown is a collective act made by all of Ontario to help bend the curve of the COVID-19 virus, and put the health and safety of all of us as a top priority. We can do this Chatham-Kent.... Let’s continue help each other, be there for each other, and show folks what #LivingCK is all about. Check out our website for more information about the shutdown: https://ckphu.com/currentlevelshutdown/ #WeCanDoThis #WeCanDoThisCK See more

2020 has been...a year. Here’s hoping you find safe and compassionate ways to stay connected to your friends and family this season. From our CK Public Health family to yours, have a Happy Holidays, and remember...... You are doing great. Let’s keep finding creative ways to be great together. Please note: CK Public Health will not be providing a status update on our website on December 25th and will resume status updates on December 28th 2020 at https://ckphu.com/current-situation-in-chatham-kent/

As of 12:01 a.m. on Saturday December 26, 2020, Chatham-Kent will join a province-wide shutdown, for a period of 28 days. Until then, Chatham-Kent will remain in the Yellow-Protect tier of the framework. All public health measures specific to the shutdown can be viewed here:: https://files.ontario.ca/moh-provincewide-shutdown-en-2020-... Please continue to: Physical distance (2 M) from those outside your household Avoid non essential travel Wash hands frequently or use 70% alcohol hand sanitizer Wear a face covering Stay home if you are unwell Learn more about our current status on our website: https://ckphu.com/currentlevelshutdown/ Learn more about how to celebrate the holidays safely on our Holidays 2020 webpage: https://ckphu.com/holiday-page-2020/

We are happy to share the results of a COVID-19 community survey that we conducted in partnership with IPSOS. We wish to offer a special thanks to all the Chatham-Kent residents who shared their thoughts with us. For all the details, please visit our latest news post: https://ckphu.com/2020/12/covid-19-survey-findings/

Dr. Colby shares his latest thoughts on vaccines for COVID-19 and answers your questions. ------------ "When (or should) those who were positive for COVID-19 get vaccinated?"(2:50) "Will we have to carry proof of vaccination to access places or events?" (3:35) "Will we be able to get tested after vaccination to prove we are protected?" (4:49)... "What priority groups are first in line for vaccination?" (5:30) "Will we need to be vaccinated yearly for COVID-19?" (7:26) See more

ICYMI: Dr. Colby talking about vaccines in an extended interview with Jay Smith at 99.1 CKXS - Chatham-Kent & Lambton County's Music Variety https://ckxsfm.com/listen-dr-david-colby-interview-the-cov/

Today, Chatham-Kent moved to the "Yellow-Protect" level of the "Keeping Ontario Open and Safe" framework. What is the criteria from moving from each level? -Local weekly epidemiological data (rate of new cases, % of people tested who test positive, number and magnitude of outbreaks, rate of new cases with an unknown acquisition or "no epi-link")... -Health system capacity (hospital and ICU capacity) -Public Health capacity (ability to follow-up with cases and contacts within 24hrs) What factor led to CK moving from green to yellow? -The data for CK was showing two things: 1) a weekly incidence rate of confirmed cases (the number of new cases in a week relative to CK’s population) 2) a % positivity (the number of people who tested positive as a % of the total number of people tested) that were both HIGHER than previous weeks and within the indicator RANGES set out for the yellow tier of the provincial framework. To learn more about our current level, please visit: https://ckphu.com/currentlevel/

There are only 2 DAYS LEFT to share your ideas on the CK Food Strategy. Head to www.letstalkchathatham-kent.ca to take our survey, give your input, and be entered for a chance to win 1 of 3 $100 grocery gift cards! It’s not too late! Survey closes end of day TOMORROW Nov 18th. Have questions or want more information? Visit https://letstalkfood-ck.com/ck-food-strategy-resources/... #ckont #ckfpc #wegrow4theworld #ckfoodstrategy See more

If you participated in our program #ckont be sure to pickup your kit before Wednesday November 18th as this is the last day. #TakeActionOnRadon

Updated Food Recall Warning - Certain Compliments brand and Levitts brand deli meat products recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes. #ckont #cfia_food https://www.inspection.gc.ca//eng/160808447/1608084476446

Don't get spooked by surprises this Halloween: ensure that you follow public health advice to stay safe! Wash your hands before going out Wear a face covering Collect treats with only your household... Collect treats at a distance from other ghouls and goblins Wash your hands again at home and have an adult inspect your candy Pick a safe/visible costume to wear and follow safety rules while outside trick-or-treating DO NOT trick-or-treat or hand out treats if you are unwell or isolating! Take a look at our Halloween page to learn more: https://ckphu.com/halloweensafety/

Happy Diwali! Please celebrate with these COVID-19 tips from our friends at Fraser Health: shorturl.at/fpsKV

Compliments brand Smoked Beef Pastrami recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes. Follow us to Good Health #ckont https://www.inspection.gc.ca//eng/160610585/1606105856067

Don’t risk scary fines and putting your fellow trick-or-treaters at risk. COVID-19 does not hide from special events or holidays, and one party could cost more than just you: your school, your work, your community. Celebrate safely. Save your Halloween party until next year. If you have a concern about a gathering, please contact 519-360-1998 and your call will be directed.... Take a look at our Halloween page on our website to learn more: https://ckphu.com/halloweensafety/ Municipality of Chatham-Kent

Chatham-Kent will remain in the Yellow-Protect tier of the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open framework. All the specific public health measures in the "Yellow-Protect" tier can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/32ZIGT6 Please continue to:... Physical distance (2 M) from those outside your household Avoid non essential travel and gatherings Wash hands frequently or use 70% alcohol hand sanitizer Wear a face covering Stay home if you are unwell Learn more on our status page on our website: https://ckphu.com/currentlevel/

Food is part of all of our lives. It connects us to one another and has influences on our health, environment, culture, and economy. Food’s integration into our community is the reason it is so important to have a strategy in place to ensure our local food system is sustainable, plentiful, and strong. Our Food Strategy is a multi-year plan to build on policies and programs that already exist, address gaps, and find new opportunities as we move forward in the areas of food pr...oduction, processing, distribution, consumption, and waste. We want this strategy to be a reflection of local inputs and priorities, which means we need your help CK! Visit www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca to learn more about our strategy, and to take part in our survey to express your ideas and opinions on our proposed Strategy. Participate from now until Nov 18th for a chance to win 1 of 3 $100 grocery gift cards!

Dr. David Colby, Medical Officer of Health for Chatham-Kent, has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Winston Churchill Public School. This is the first school outbreak in Chatham-Kent. An outbreak in a school is defined as two (2) or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 within a school community, where transmission has been confirmed to have occurred within the school. CK Public Health has notified the school community (students, staff, parents and guardians). All close contacts wer...e directed to isolate and were tested. If you have not been contacted by CK Public Health, no testing is required at this time. The school will remain open. For the full release, please visit our newsroom: https://ckphu.com/newsroom/

Let's keep each other safe and supported this Holiday season. Please consider the following public health recommendations when celebrating the holidays this year: If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, even mild ones, please STAY HOME... Keep close contact with only those in your immediate household; people who live alone may consider having exclusive close contact with one additional household Maintain 2 metres physical distance from folks outside your household Wear a mask or face covering whenever you are in an indoor public setting or where physical distancing cannot be maintained Have virtual gatherings and events, and safely celebrate with people outside your household Avoid non-essential travel, especially travel from an area of higher transmission to lower transmission If returning home for the holidays (e.g. from college or university), self-quarantine or significantly limit your close contacts for 14 days prior to going home to reduce your risk of getting COVID-19 and taking it home Wash your hands frequently and use hand sanitizer with at leas 70% alcohol content Wash and disinfect high-touch surfaces often For more information, please visit our Holidays 2020 page on our website: https://ckphu.com/holiday-page-2020/

Food connects us and influences health, culture, environment, and economy of our people and our communities. The CK Food Strategy will focus on how we can strengthen our local food system. We need your feedback on the CK Food Strategy! Watch this video to learn more and then go to www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca to have your say!

Raschera DOP (cheese) recalled due to Salmonella Follow us to Good Health! #ckont #cfia_food https://www.inspection.gc.ca//eng/160271685/1602716859333

The Province of Ontario has announced that Chatham-Kent Public Health will be remaining in the Green-Prevent tier of the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open framework. While we have not been moved to other colours at this time, this is NOT the time to relax the hard work that CK has done to stop the spread of COVID-19. Please continue to: Physical distance (2 M) from those outside your household... Avoid non essential travel and gatherings Wash hands frequently or use 70% alcohol hand sanitizer Wear a face covering Stay home if you are unwell! Learn more on our status page on our website: https://ckphu.com/currentlevel/ See the full provincial media release: https://bit.ly/3pqgKBx

The Province of Ontario has announced that Chatham-Kent Public Health will be moving in the Yellow-Protect tier of the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open framework on Monday, November 23rd. All the specific public health measure changes in the "Yellow-Protect" tier can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/32ZIGT6 As we transition to a new level of community protection, please continue to:... Physical distance (2 M) from those outside your household Avoid non essential travel and gatherings Wash hands frequently or use 70% alcohol hand sanitizer Wear a face covering Stay home if you are unwell Learn more on our status page on our website: https://ckphu.com/currentlevel/

We know Halloween will not be celebrated traditionally this year. Please remember if you are going out for Halloween (as a trick-or-treater or chaperone) to: Trick-or-treat outside with your household in your community only Trick-or-treat at a distance Wear a face covering ... Check treats before eating DO NOT trick-or-treat or hand out treats if you are unwell or isolating Take a look at our Halloween page on our website to learn more: https://ckphu.com/halloweensafety/

Halloween can be difficult for people with food allergies. Whether you are staying home to hand out treats or trick or treating with your family, consider learning more about celebrating Halloween with Food Allergy Research & Education!

Time is almost up! Today is the final day of the CK Food Strategy survey. Don’t miss out on the chance to give your input on CK’s multi-year plan to strengthen the local food system. Survey closes at midnight. Visit www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca now to complete the survey for a chance to win 1 of 3 $100 grocery gift cards! If you know of someone who works in the food system - everything from growing to processing, from grocery stores and restaurants to bakeries and butcher sh...ops, people who have a passion for food or those that want to learn more - please share this or tag them in the comments. We need YOU and your input! Thank you to those who have already completed the survey, we look forward to working your ideas into the CK Food Strategy! #ckont #ckpfc #wegrow4theworld #ckfoodstrategy

Join us on November 4th to learn about social attitudes and health differences in our community!

CK Public Health supports all mothers in their infant feeding decision. https://ckphu.com//ck-public-health-supports-all-mothers-/

Join us next Wednesday to learn more about what social and health attitudes impact the community of Chatham-Kent! This webinar is open to everyone!

CK Public Health is thankful for the community of Chatham-Kent, for following public health advice to keep our community safe. However, COVID-19 does not take holidays, so we must remain aware of our actions this weekend. In addition to only having your meal with your household or virtually, please consider the following for your Thanksgiving meal this weekend: Preparing plates ahead of time, or ordering takeout from one of our fantastic local restaurants; Consider havi...ng your meal outside (weather permitting, with a 25 person limit for outdoor gatherings); Wash your hands before and after eating your meal and; Stay home if you feel sick! See the full Thanksgiving safety article on our website: https://bit.ly/3daO6P8

Double the chances of quitting smoking with Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). Sign up for an NRT trial pack offer today!

Hey, CK! You see that there is a mobile COVID-19 testing clinic at the Blenheim Arena/Pool and Ursuline College Chatham again today. This clinic is to test students and staff from our local schools who have been isolated in the contact tracing process by public health. When there is a positive result of COVID-19 in a school community, testing will be arranged for those that have been identified. By arranging testing for certain situations, we can keep the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Assessment Centre more available for the community! Just a reminder that this clinic IS NOT for the public, as we have carefully arranged testing for individuals at optimal times.

CK Gleaning Project help farmers support our community!

Participate in the Ontario Breast Screening TRIVIA contest!

The CK Food Strategy Survey is now live and we need your input! Don't miss our on your change to be entered to win 1 of 3, $100 grocery gift cards. Do you have questions or need more information? Visit https://letstalkfood-ck.com/ck-food-strategy-resources/ for more information.... The survey can be found at www.letstalkchatham-kent.ca

This week we are celebrating "Fire Prevention Week 2020" with our friends at Chatham-Kent Fire Department (Official) Let's prevent a leading cause of home fires by only smoking outdoors. If you're interested in quitting smoking, please visit https://ckphu.com/quit/ for supports and services available to Chatham-Kent residents.

Looking to become a volunteer in our community?

Effective immediately, Dr. David Colby, Medical Officer of Health for Chatham-Kent has issued a class order pursuant to Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the community. You MUST: Be truthful when answering community screening questions at workplaces, schools, businesses and other organizations... Isolate immediately when directed by public health and stay in isolation (DO NOT LEAVE YOUR HOME) until directed by public health Keep away from vulnerable persons if directed to isolate Provide public health with your close contacts’ names and phone numbers for contact tracing Inform public health if you need help or resources to properly self-isolate Seek medical attention if your illness worsens Follow other direction provided to you by public health See the full order on our website: https://bit.ly/34pLZEe

The Government of Canada's COVID Alert app can alert you if you have been exposed to COVID-19, or if you have exposed others to COVID-19 without sharing personal information. Visit ontario.ca/covidalert to learn more about this app!

The community may see that there is a mobile COVID-19 testing clinic at the Blenheim Arena/Pool and Ursuline College Chatham today. This clinic has been arranged by public health and our community paramedicine partners to test students and staff from our local schools who have been isolated in the contact tracing process. Public health will continue to test on Monday, in both Blenheim and Chatham. This clinic IS NOT for the general public. Appointments have been made for individuals, and there will be no walk ins or appointments booked on site. While we understand there may be interest from the community, please avoid the clinic areas to allow identified individuals to be tested, and for public health/paramedics to assist them as efficiently as possible.

Please note of the changes for getting a COVID-19 test at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance!

We’re doing a community survey! Ipsos interviewers will call a random selection of CK households starting October 23rd for about 2 weeks to ask COVID-19 related questions that will help in our pandemic response. They’ll ask general questions such as age, gender, education, employment status, income, and ethnicity to help better understand the survey responses. ... The interviewer will not ask for your name, address or other personal information like your bank account or Social Insurance Number. To learn more about the survey visit our news post: https://ckphu.com//ck-public-health-conducts-community-su/ Thank you for helping us learn more about COVID-19 in our community!

Halloween may look different this year, but by following guidance from public health, we will ensure together that it is not a spooky experience! Please consider the following recommendations: Trick-or-treat outside with your household in your community only Trick-or-treat at a distance ... Wear a face covering Practice proper hand hygiene Use non-touch methods for handing out treats Check treats before eating Avoid parties and gatherings (remember, gathering limits still apply) Do not trick-or-treat or hand out treats if you are unwell or isolating Take a look at our new Halloween page to learn more: https://ckphu.com/halloweensafety/

The #babyfriendlyinitiative recognizes that there are medical and personal reasons for the use of infant formula. Families need individual guidance and support to help them make an informed decision and learn how to lessen the health risks associated with formula feeding. #BFIOntario #NationalBreastfeedingWeek2020 #healthybabieshealthyplanet #nationalbreastfeedingweek #WBW2020 #breastfeeding #ckbreastfeedingcoalition

Thanksgiving may look different this year, but 2020 has given us many things to be thankful for! Learning how to connect with each other in creative ways and showing our thanks during times of hardship have shown how resilient the community of Chatham-Kent truly is! Consider the following before celebrating Thanksgiving: Having a meal with only those in your household (10 person limit for indoor gatherings), or using technology to meet virtually... Preparing plates ahead of time, or ordering takeout from one of our fantastic local restaurants Consider having your meal outside (weather permitting, with a 25 person limit for outdoor gatherings) Wash your hands before and after eating your meal and; Stay home if you feel sick See the full article on our website: https://ckphu.com/20//staying-healthy-during-thanksgiving/ Learn about further ways to stop the spread of COVID-19: https://ckphu.com/prevent-the-spread/