Once again, there has been a record number of new COVID-19 cases reported in the London area.
Both the Middlesex London Health Unit and Southwestern Public Health reported record-breaking figures on Wednesday. The Middlesex London Health Unit reported 88 new cases, while Southwestern Public Health reported 47.
Neither health unit reported any deaths on Wednesday, leaving the death toll at 93 in London and Middlesex and 11 in Oxford and Elgin counties.
"While the provincial shutdown officially starts on December 26, I urge everyone to limit their contact with others effective immediately," said Southwestern Public Health Medical Officer of Health Dr. Joyce Lock. "We have cases in every community and in people of every age.Transmission happens at social events, in workplaces, through travel, and within institutions. What is most worrisome is that we have many cases we cannot trace to a source. This evidence of community spread means urgent action is required from each of us. Our case management and contact tracing teams are working at maximum capacity due to the large number of cases in our region. It may take them longer to reach out to positive cases and to begin the contact tracing process. You can assist by informing family, friends, coworkers, or teammates you have been in close contact with of your results and asking them to get tested and self-isolate.”
The record figures came on the same day that the first health care worker in the London area received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and Health Canada approved the Moderna vaccine for use in this country.
In London and Middlesex County, there have now been 2,696 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since March. Of those, 2,106 are considered recovered. There are 497 active cases in the community. Southwestern Public Health says there have now been over 1,000 cases in Elgin and Oxford counties since the start of the pandemic. Of those, 182 are active.
Provincial health officials reported 2,408 new cases on Wednesday. Forty-one deaths were reported, bringing the total in Ontario to 4,229. There are 1,002 people being treated for COVID-19 in Ontario hospital. Of those, 275 are in intensive care and 186 are on ventilators.
