Lambton Public Health reported another three COVID-19 related deaths Wednesday.
Since January 1, 2022, there have been 23 local deaths linked to the virus, for a total of 106 in the last 22 months.
The health unit said the latest were an individual in their 70s and another in their 90s that died at Bluewater Health, and a third person in their 60s died at Strathroy hospital.
In its daily update, the health unit reported 17 new lab confirmed cases of the virus, up to 8,495 since the start of the pandemic. The number of resolved cases increased by 58, to 8,005, lowering the number of known active cases by 44 to 384.
There are 14 active outbreaks, down from 17 on Tuesday. Outbreaks previously reported at Marshall Gowland Manor, Afton Park Place and Community Living Sarnia-Lambton have ended.
Bluewater Health has 39 COVID-positive patients in hospital, down five from the previous report. Six of the patients are in intensive care.
The local rate of infection per 100,000 population dropped to 431.7 for the week of January 16 to 22, down from 573.1 the week before. The positivity rate was slightly lower from 31.8 per cent to 30.8 per cent.