Nasal swabs in test tubes. File photo courtesy of  © Can Stock Photo / ayo88.Nasal swabs in test tubes. File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / ayo88.
London

Ten new COVID-19 cases, nine recoveries in London-Middlesex

There was a slight drop in the number of new COVID-19 cases reported in London and Middlesex County Friday, however, daily infection totals were still in the double digits.

The Middlesex London Health Unit said 10 more people tested positive for the virus over the last 24 hours. That is down one from Thursday's 11 and brings the weekly case tally to 51.

Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a total of 1,081 cases in the region.

Nine recoveries were reported Friday, increasing the area's number of resolved cases to 953. The number of active cases in the city and county sits at 69.

There are ongoing outbreaks at the following long-term care and retirement homes – Oakcrossing Retirement Living, Westmount Gardens, Chartwell London, Chelsey Park, Henley Park LTC Residence, Craigwiel Gardens, McGarrell Place, and Extendicare.

No new deaths have been recorded since Wednesday. That leaves the death toll at 59.

Southwestern Public Health, the health unit for Elgin and Oxford counties, reported two new infections. The area’s total case count is now 302. There were two more recoveries in the region, to bring the resolved cases up to 280. It has been more than three months since any virus related deaths were reported in the two counties. Seventeen cases remain active.

Provincially, the number of new COVID-19 cases saw a minor decrease.

Public health officials reported 826 new cases on Friday. That is down from 841 logged on Thursday.

Transmission continues to be highest in Toronto, Peel, Ottawa, and York Region. Toronto recorded 292 new cases, Peel logged 186, Ottawa reported 87, and York had 72.

Of the new cases, people between the ages of 20 and 39 accounted for 317. Those aged 40 to 59 made up 222 of the cases, while there were 132 infections in people under 20.

Ontario’s total case count is now 68,353.

For a third straight day, there were nine more COVID-19 related deaths in the province. That brings Ontario's death toll up to 3,080.

Recoveries are up by 733 and now stand at 58,799.

Currently, 276 infected Ontarians are in hospital receiving treatment, with 78 in the intensive care unit.

Over the last 24 hour period, the province has conducted more than 40,000 additional COVID-19 tests.

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