The Middlesex London Health Unit (MLHU) reported five new cases of COVID-19 in the London area Friday, including three health care workers from long-term care homes.
The positive cases come as an outbreak was declared at Chartwell London, a long-term care residence in north London. The health unit has not reported whether the cases among health care staff were associated with the facility.
While cases inside long-term care homes have continued to climb in recent weeks, with nine locations dealing with active outbreaks, there has only been one new case at a retirement home since Sept. 22 involving a staff member.
On Thursday, the MLHU reported the first COVID-19 death since mid-June, a 91-year-old man who was a resident of a long-term care home.
Today’s five new cases include two people in their 20s, two in their 30s and in their 60s. Four were from London and one was from Thames Centre. All of the cases were female.
Contact tracing showed three cases were linked to an outbreak, one had been in direct contact with a known case and one was pending.
The MLHU posted 11 recoveries today, with the total of known active cases in the region now at 88. London assessment centres swabbed 578 people on Thursday.
COVID-19 across the region and beyond
The Southwestern Public Health Unit, which includes St. Thomas, Woodstock, and Elgin and Oxford counties, reported two new cases of COVID-19 Friday. The local case count stands at 287, with 13 known active cases.
Meanwhile, the province reported 712 new COVID-19 cases as hospitalizations continue to climb.
The majority of cases in the province were reported in Toronto, with 213 cases, followed by Peel, Ottawa and York.
