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London

43 new COVID-19 cases in London-Middlesex

With less than a week remaining in March, the Middlesex London Health Unit has reported the highest number of new coronavirus cases this month.

The health unit reported 43 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, after 31 new cases were reported Wednesday. One of the new cases reported Thursday involves a variant of concern, according to the health unit. There have now been five cases confirmed to involve variants in London and Middlesex County. A total of 69 cases have "screened positive" for variants.

Fortunately, there were no new deaths reported on Thursday. While cases numbers are climbing, there has not been a corresponding increase in the number of deaths and hospitalizations.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Chris Mackie said on Twitter that it comes down to who is getting vaccinated.

"The reason we are seeing more cases but not more deaths: vaccines are going primarily to those at highest risk of death (residents of long-term care and retirement homes as well as the elderly), and those who care for them," he tweeted. "We will see more deaths in Wave 3. If we act irresponsibly, we may see a lot more. In some countries where vaccination rates are higher, relaxing restrictions & behaviours too early has caused a new spike in deaths and cases. But for now, the vaccine campaign here is working."

London and Middlesex County have seen a total of 6,717 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 185 deaths. There are 242 active cases.

There are still outbreaks at Dearness Home, Glendale Crossing, Richmond Woods, and the U4 - Medicine 1 unit at the London Health Sciences Centre.

Ontario reported 2,380 new cases on Thursday, although Health Minister Christine Elliott said the case count is higher by about 280 cases because of "data catch-up process related to the provincial CCM system."

Of the new cases, 854 are believed to involve variants of concern.

Seventeen deaths were reported, bringing the COVID-19 death toll in Ontario to 7,280.

Ontario’s hospitals are currently treating 894 patients with COVID-19. Of those, 332 are in intensive care and 212 are on ventilators.

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