Another COVID-19 death was recorded in the London-area on Friday, as the region's daily case count dropped slightly.
The Middlesex London Health Unit reported a man in his 70s succumbed to the virus on Friday. He was not associated with a long-term care or retirement home. His death is the 17th so far this month and the fifth straight day a COVID-19 death has been recorded.
London and Middlesex County's death toll now stands at 217.
There were another 59 new COVID-19 cases logged in the region on Friday. That is down from 94 on Thursday and 62 on Wednesday. Daily case numbers have been in the double-digits for 12 consecutive days now, after spending much of the previous month in the triple-digits.
Heading into the long weekend, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Chris Mackie called on residents to remain vigilant in the fight against COVID-19.
"This is the weekend where we could blow it all," said Mackie. "We want to have a wonderful summer. We want to put this pandemic to bed. If we take risks this weekend, it jeopardizes all of that."
He urged people to continue to physical distance and wear masks.
“Yes, get outside, enjoy the great outdoors. Please do not gather indoors," said Mackie.
The region has recorded a total of 11,886 cases since the pandemic began 15-months ago.
Recoveries rose by 63 since Thursday for a total of 11,053. There are currently 616 known active cases in the region, down from 791 a week ago.
Hospitalizations in the city and county fell by one on Friday to leave 48 COVID-19 positive patients in the care of the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). Of those, 19 are listed in the intensive care unit and ten were transferred in from hospitals in COVID-19 hotspots.
The number of variants of concern identified in the area has risen by 60 to 2,734. There were 55 new cases involving the B.1.1.7 variant that originated in the U.K., bringing the total to 2,701 cases. Five more cases of the P.1 variant from Brazil were confirmed for a total of 32. Middlesex London has had a single case of the B.1.617 variant, originally found in India.
There are four ongoing outbreaks at area seniors' facilities - Dearness Home, Kensington Village, Kensington Village Retirement, and McGarrell Place. There is also an outbreak at a local child care centre.
In Elgin and Oxford counties, there was a slight increase in the number of new cases. Southwestern Public Health, the health unit for the region, said there were 15 new COVID-19 infections recorded Friday, up from ten on Thursday. The region’s total number of cases is now 3,714 with 3,531 resolved. The death toll was unchanged at 79. Currently, there are 104 active cases in the two counties. An outbreak continues at Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital where 19 people have been infected and one died. As of last Saturday, 40.9 per cent of local residents have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 2.3 per cent have been given both doses.
The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ontario dropped back below 2,000 following a one day surge.
Public health officials confirmed 1,890 new infections across the province on Friday. That is down from 2,400 on Thursday. Daily case counts on Wednesday and Tuesday were 1,588 and 1,616.
Toronto had the province’s highest daily number of cases on Friday with 469, followed by Peel with 468, York Region with 165, Hamilton with 111, and Durham with 107.
Ontario’s total case count since the start of the pandemic now stands at 518,980.
There have been another 1,230 new cases of the variant originating from the U.K. in Ontario. That brings the province’s total number of B.1.1.7. cases to 115,799. Cases of the B.1.351 and P.1 variants are up by seven and 53 for a total of 691 and 2,142.
There were 27 additional deaths reported over the past 24 hours. The provincial death toll is now 8,579.
Hospitalizations in Ontario are down with 1,265 COVID-19 positive patients admitted. Of those, 715 are in intensive care and 510 are on ventilators.
The number of resolved cases rose to 488,201. There are currently 22,200 active cases of the virus in Ontario.
In the last 24 hour period, 37,126 COVID-19 tests were processed, up from 45,406 the previous day. Ontario’s current positivity rate is 5.2 per cent.
To date, the province has administered 7,735,148 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 495,757 people having received both shots required to be fully inoculated.
The provincial government said on Thursday once 60 per cent of the adult population in Ontario has received one dose of the vaccine, likely in mid-June, it will begin its three-step reopening plan. A province-wide stay-at-home order remains in effect until June 2, even as golf and tennis courses are given the go ahead to reopen on Saturday.
