Three more people infected with COVID-19 have died in the London-area.
The Middlesex London Health Unit reported on Thursday two of the deaths were in local long-term care homes, while the third was in a retirement facility. To date, there have been 26 COVID-19 related deaths in the region, 11 in long-term care, and just one in a retirement residence.
The number of confirmed cases of the virus went up by just four on Thursday and now sits at 347. Thirty-three of the people diagnosed with COVID-19 are in the care of the London Health Sciences Centre, 11 of whom are listed in intensive care.
Since the outbreak began, 163 people in London-Middlesex have recovered from the virus.
In Elgin and Oxford counties, Southwestern Public Health has recorded another six new cases and one additional COVID-19 related death. The death toll in that area now stands at four. A total of 53 cases have been confirmed since the start of the pandemic.
Across Ontario, the number of newly confirmed cases rose to 12,879, with 634 additional cases reported. That is the new highest single-day jump in COVID-19 cases in Ontario.
Another 54 deaths related to the virus were also recorded Thursday. To date, there have been 713 deaths across the province.
The situation in the province's long-term care homes continues to worsen, with 135 outbreaks reported, that's up from 128 on Wednesday. The increase comes a day after Premier Doug Ford asked for military assistance at five long-term care homes in the province, where he claims the virus is spreading like "wildfire." A total of 516 deaths have been at long-term care homes across the province.
11.7 per cent of all Ontarians who have contracted the virus have had to be hospitalized. There are currently 887 people being treated in Ontario hospitals, 233 in the intensive care unit, and 185 in intensive care with a ventilator helping them to breathe.
The number of people to recover from COVID-19 has grown to 6,680.