The number of new cases of COVID-19 in the London area dropped back below 20 to end the week.
The Middlesex London Health Unit reported 13 new cases on Friday, along with zero deaths. The health unit had reported 24 new cases Thursday after new case counts were 20 or fewer each day earlier in the week.
There have now been 5,973 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported by the Middlesex London Health Unit since the start of the pandemic. The death toll remains at 180.
The number of resolved cases grew to 5,587 on Friday. That leaves 206 known active cases in the community.
"This includes 13 cases being reported in #LdnOnt-Middlesex, our lowest total in weeks as the downward trend continues," London Mayor Ed Holder tweeted. "Keep doing what you’re doing, London. Your efforts are making a real difference, and you’re helping to save lives."
Outbreaks remain at five local long-term care and retirement homes.
In Elgin and Oxford, there were just two new COVID-19 infections reported Friday. Southwestern Public Health, the health unit for the two counties, said the new infections bring the total case count to 2,418. For a third straight day there were no additional deaths, leaving the death toll at 64. There are five area long-term care or retirement homes dealing with cases of the virus. The hardest hit are PeopleCare Tavistock and Caressant Care Retirement Home Woodstock. They have a combined case total of 160 resident and staff infections and 12 deaths. Resolved cases have increased to 2,244. There are now 110 known active cases in the two counties.
The London Health Sciences Centre currently has 17 inpatients with COVID-19, with seven in the intensive care unit.
Ontario reported 1,076 new cases and 18 deaths on Friday. The 7-day average for new cases is down to 1,180 cases per day. The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 fell to 763, with 295 in intensive care and 203 on ventilators.
Health Minister Christine Elliott says, as of 8 p.m. Thursday, 442,441 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered.