The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Sarnia-Lambton spiked again Thursday morning to nearly 100, and Bluewater Health reported another death.
The hospital's website as of 10:30 a.m. said the ninth patient has died from the virus.
Communications Chief Julia Oosterman said the latest death is a 91-year-old man admitted April 2 from Sarnia's Landmark Village retirement home, who tested positive April 4 and died April 8.
Bluewater Health also reported that there are 25 patients with the virus still in hospital and 11 suspected of having it with tests pending.
Lambton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Sudit Ranade told Sue Storr on CHOK (103.9 FM, 1070 AM) that the caseload has increased from 87 to 98.
He said 22 of the confirmed cases, 15 residents and seven staff, are linked to the outbreak at Landmark Village. Five of Lambton's nine deaths are now related to that facility.
The Lambton Public Health website, as of 9:15 a.m. also said the number of people with the virus who have recovered has climbed from five to eight.
Dr. Ranade said he's very wary about homemade masks being used by healthcare professionals but he said the general public wearing some form of mask can protect those around them.
"The evidence around why people should use masks in the community is very, very low," said Ranade. "Really, the recommendation from the Public Health Agency of Canada is being framed as a permissive one. If you would like to use masks because you feel that they will make you safe, but remember, that the reason for wearing a mask is not actually to protect you. There's very little evidence that putting a mask on you will help you if you don't have any symptoms."
The medical officer of health said he agrees that more testing has to be done across the province.
"I think everybody want's more testing including me. I would love to see almost everyone who has symptoms being tested if we had that kind of capacity. I think the labs are building up capacity, and now the key issue is getting enough swabs into communities to be able to do the tests," he said.
Heading into the long Easter weekend, Dr. Ranade said this is not the time to gather with extended family, and urged everyone to follow physical distancing rules.
-With files from Sue Storr
