On a day that saw the London area set another record for new COVID-19 cases, the local health unit is practically begging people to celebrate the holidays at home.
The Middlesex London Health Unit reported 58 new cases on Thursday, breaking the previous daily high of 53 cases that was set on Monday. One death was also reported. The death of a man in his 80s, which is the 82nd in London and Middlesex County since the start of the pandemic, was not linked to a long term care facility, according to the health unit.
London and Middlesex County have now seen a total of 2,257 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of those, 1,858 are considered resolved.
"It’s never been more dangerous than right now. PLEASE stick to your household and go out for essential reasons only," the health unit tweeted on Thursday morning. "With the holidays fast approaching, plan to celebrate at home with your household. No visitors, no guests in your home, connect virtually. We don’t know how else to say this."
Southwestern Public Health, the health unit for Elgin and Oxford counties, reported 33 new cases Thursday for a total of 833 since March. One death was reported, bringing the death toll to 11.
Public Health Ontario reported another 2,432 cases across the province on Thursday, based on over 58,000 tests. That is a record for Ontario and brings the total since the start of the pandemic to 148,967. Twenty-three deaths were reported.
The number of people in hospital with COVID is now at 913. Of those, 263 are in intensive care and 172 are on ventilators.
An additional outbreak at University Hospital has been declared over. On Thursday, the hospital reported the outbreak on the fourth-floor multi-organ transplant unit resolved.