London Mayor Ed Holder says the number of people defying public health restrictions is "absolutely ridiculous."
During Monday's COVID-19 media briefing, the mayor said he's working with the province to address the rising number of new cases being reported in the region.
Last week the province introduced phase two of the vaccine rollout plan, which includes postal codes of areas considered to be a COVID "hot spot." Other than N5H in Aylmer, no codes in the London area were included in the list of neighbourhoods the government is giving vaccine priority to.
"Without question, London is a hot spot," Holder said. "But my own perspective is not as critical as the issues of this being a matter of science. And I know that this is something that the health unit is pressing at their end at that level, while I look to see what we're able to do at the political level."
The region has reported daily case counts over 100 for nearly a week. On Saturday, the Middlesex-London Health Unit reported 161 cases, the highest single-day number recorded by health officials since the pandemic began.
Recently, health officials say the N6A postal code, has experienced one of the highest numbers of cases and outbreaks in the city.
The region's Associate Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Alex Summers, says he hopes London will soon receive more vaccines to help alleviate the problem.
"We are always mindful that there are many places that require vaccines, [but] so do we, and we will continue to have conversations with the province around that," Dr. Summers said.
While health officials work to secure more vaccines, Mayor Holder says the best way to handle the issue is for people to stop gathering and follow the stay-at-home guidelines.
"We're frustrated when those who don't follow the rules are the ones that we have to kowtow to because they're ignorant and they do not respect the rules and the health of other people," Holder said. "Until people take individual responsibility, none of this means a damn. Hot spot or otherwise."
