The London region could soon find itself busted back to the red-control tier of the province's pandemic framework as COVID-19 cases surge to levels not seen since January.
The Middlesex London Health Unit reported 54 new infections on Friday. The area has not had that many cases in a single day since January 21 when 63 infections were confirmed. The numbers had been bouncing between the low-teens to mid-20s for the past few weeks. On Monday, the numbers began steadily rising with 20 cases recorded. That was followed by 22 on Tuesday, 31 on Wednesday, and 43 on Thursday.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Chris Mackie warned this week if cases numbers continue on this trajectory the region could be shifted to the red-control or even grey-lockdown level of Ontario's COVID-19 response framework. Currently, Middlesex London is in the orange-restrict zone.
The region's total case count since the pandemic began now stands at 6,772.
There were 18 more cases screened variant positive over the past 24 hours for a total of 87. Five cases have been confirmed as variants.
The death toll is unchanged at 185, with no additional COVID-19 related deaths since March 8. Saturday marks one year since the virus claimed its first life in London and Middlesex County - a 74-year-old Strathroy man. To mark the sombre anniversary, Mayor Ed Holder is asking the public to turn a porch or balcony light on or place a light in a window to remember the lives lost.
"I believe it’s deeply important to pay our respects – as a community – to all those who have passed away due to COVID-19, while honouring their memories,” said Holder. "Sadly, due to necessary restrictions, a number of those individuals died surrounded only by a select few family members, while celebrations of life were postponed or extremely limited. That is, in part, why I feel this sombre anniversary is one worthy of a community-wide acknowledgment and commemoration.
Flags outside of London City Hall will be lowered to half-staff to mark the day.
Richmond Woods seniors' facility is no longer dealing with an outbreak. It was declared over on Thursday. That leaves just two local long-term care or retirement homes with outbreaks.
Wilberforce Public in Lucan remains in outbreak status, Central Elgin Collegiate in St. Thomas reported two cases of the virus on Friday classifying them as an outbreak as well.
The latest cases were identified by the Thames Valley District school board at Nicholas Wilson Public and Westminster Secondary on Thursday, and Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary on Friday.
The London Health Sciences Centre's outbreak at University Hospital remains contained to a medicine unit. Six patients and fewer than five staff members have tested positive. There are no deaths linked to the outbreak.
Seven more people have recovered from the virus, increasing the area's resolved cases to 6,297. There are 290 active cases in the region.
For the first time in more than a month, Southwestern Public Health is reporting a COVID-19 related death. The death is Elgin and Oxford's 68 death of the pandemic. Until Friday, no one had died because of the virus in the region since February 20. The health unit said there were ten new cases confirmed in the region to bring the total to 2,741. Currently, there are 76 active cases in the two counties.
Ontario’s daily case count jumped above 2,100 for a second day in a row.
Public health officials confirmed 2,169 new infections across the province on Friday. That’s down from 2,380 on Thursday, but up from 1,571 on Wednesday and 1,546 on Tuesday.
Toronto had the province's highest daily number of cases Friday with 682, that was followed by Peel with 397, York Region with 254, Ottawa with 129 and Durham with 123.
Over 1,000 more cases have screened positive for variants in Ontario. Of the total variants confirmed B.1.1.7,cases are up to 1,494. Cases of the B.1.351 and P.1 variants total 60 and 58.
Ontario total case count since the start of the pandemic now stands at 338,239.
There were 12 additional deaths reported over the past 24 hours. The province death toll is now 7,292.
At hospitals in Ontario, there are 913 patients with COVID-19. Of those, 359 are in intensive care and 215 are on ventilators.
The number of resolved cases rose to 314,384. There are currently 16,563 active cases of the virus in Ontario.
In the last 24 hour period, more than 53,400 COVID-19 tests were processed. The province positivity rate is steady at 3.8 per cent.
To date, the province has administered 1,838,592 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 306,373 people having received both shots required to be fully inoculated.