An inmate at the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre has tested positive for COVID-19.
The inmate was the only newly confirmed case reported by local health officials on Thursday. According to Kristy Denette, spokesperson for the Ministry of the Solicitor General, there is a partial lockdown at the jail to allow for a deep cleaning of affected areas.
"In cases where inmates have tested positive for COVID-19, immediate precautionary containment measures are taken, in accordance with operating procedures, including deep cleaning of impacted areas, and notifying the local Medical Officer of Health as well as provincial health professionals," a statement from the ministry said. "Institution health care staff are working collaboratively and under the direction of the local Medical Officer of Health to manage the situation, including containment strategies such as medical isolation as required. Inmates also receive medical attention as required."
The new case brings the total number of confirmed cases in London and Middlesex County since the start of the outbreak to 568.
There were no additional deaths in the region. The death toll remains at 56, with residents in long-term care and retirement homes accounting for 36 of the deaths.
The number of outbreaks in local long-term care/retirement facilities is unchanged at two. Outbreaks remain at Chelsey Park Retirement Community and Kensington Village.
The London Health Sciences Centre said the number of inpatients with COVID-19 is stable. As of Thursday, it will no longer be sharing the number of patients in its care unless the number exceeds five. The measure is being taken to protect the privacy of patients, the hospital said.
The number of people to recover from the virus has increased to 428.
Southwestern Public Health, the health unit for Elgin and Oxford counties, reported no new cases or deaths on Thursday. The total number of confirmed cases stands at 77. There has been a total of four COVID-19 related deaths in the two counties, with no new deaths reported since April 22. The number of resolved cases has increased by one and now sits at 69.
Provincially there was another small decrease in the number of new COVID-19 cases confirmed over the past 24 hours. A total of 203 new cases were reported on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases in Ontario since the pandemic began to 31,544. The slight decrease in daily confirmed cases comes after the number climbed back above 250 on Wednesday.
Another 12 people died as a result of the virus. There has now been a total of 2,487 COVID-19 related deaths across the province.
There are currently 538 patients in hospital with the virus. Of those, 120 are in intensive care and 87 are relying on a ventilator to breathe.
The province managed to conduct 24,341 tests over the last 24 hours.
Public health officials have said 25,885 of the cases have been resolved province-wide, an increase of 505 from Wednesday.
