Vaccine clinic aiming for 500 shots a day, as Middlesex-London hits 100 new COVID-19 cases
CBC News | Posted: December 29, 2020 5:29 PM | Last Updated: December 29, 2020
There are also 11 active outbreaks at seniors' facilities
Recent developments:
- Middlesex-London reports 100 new COVID-19 cases and one new death
- Outbreak declared at east-London apartment complex after nearly 50 people test positive
- Ontario reports 2,553 new COVID-19 cases, says 19 vaccination clinics are now open
The latest in the London-region
Middlesex-London's daily COVID-19 case count has hit triple digits for the first time.
There are 100 new cases of the virus and one new death reported Tuesday. The latest person to die was a man in his 80s linked to a long-term care home, bringing the total number of deaths up to 100 according to data from the Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU).
The previous record was 88 new cases, reported Dec. 23.
There's also been an increase in the number of cases associated with long-term care homes in the region. Of the new cases reported Tuesday, 17 are linked to long-term care homes: seven cases are patients and ten are staff members.
There are active outbreaks at 11 seniors' facilities, including outbreaks declared Boxing Day on the third floors of Extendicare and Earls Court Village, and on the second floor of Oakcrossing Retirement Living.
LHSC to vaccinate 300 people Tuesday
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is ramping up its delivery of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Middlesex-London. By the end of the Tuesday, 800 people will have received the shot since the LHSC began administering it Dec 23, said Dr. Adam Dukelow, LHSC's chief medical officer.
He said 500 people had received the shot before the vaccination clinic opened its doors Tuesday, another 300 were expected to receive it Tuesday, and that the LHSC hoped to vaccinate another 420 individuals Wednesday.
"By Monday, January 4th, we anticipate that we will vaccinate five hundred individuals per day," said Dukelow, adding that the clinic will run during the upcoming weekend. "The biggest limitation on how many get vaccinated in the coming weeks will be the amount of vaccine we receive."
The clinic, at Western Fair District's Agriplex building, serves Middlesex-London, Huron-Perth, and Oxford-Elgin-St.Thomas regions.
Dukelow also said there are no more outbreaks of COVID-19 at University Hospital. The final outbreak, in the general medicine unit, has been resolved.
There had been 11 unit-level outbreaks at the hospital since Nov. 10, with 92 positive cases in staff members and 82 positive cases in patients. Twenty-three people died amid the outbreaks at University Hospital.
"I must acknowledge the tragic impact these outbreaks have had on our patients and the families of those whose deaths are associated with them," said Dukelow. "I'm sorry these outbreaks occurred and I'm sorry for the suffering they have caused."
There is now just one outbreak left at LHSC's Victoria Hospital, in the burns and plastic unit. LHSC said there are no deaths associated with the outbreak, and fewer than five staff and five patients have tested positive.
Outbreak declared at London apartment
The MLHU has declared an outbreak of COVID-19 at an apartment complex in the city's east end, where almost 50 people have tested positive for the virus.
Between the two buildings, 112 and 114 Arbor Glen Crescent, 46 people have tested positive for COVID-19. That includes three staff members.
More cases at London-area schools
According to the Thames Valley District School Board, there are 32 active cases of COVID-19 across its schools.
There were two new cases identified at Lord Dorchester Secondary School on Tuesday and one at Princess Elizabeth Public School. On Monday, the school board reported cases at Glen Cairn, Locke's and London Central public schools.
There are also six active cases within the London District Catholic School Board.
According to its website, there's one case at St Michael in London, three cases at St. Anne's in St. Thomas, one case at Monsignor JH O'Neil in Tillsonburg and one case at Catholic Central (CCH) in London.
What's happening outside of Middlesex-London?
Southwestern Public Health (SWPH), which covers Oxford and Elgin counties as well as Woodstock and St. Thomas, is reporting 27 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, and a total of 274 active cases.
Fifty-nine of those active cases are in Tillsonburg, 55 are in Aylmer, 51 are in St. Thomas and 27 are in Woodstock.
According to data from SWPH, there are currently eight people in hospital in the region with COVID-19 and two are in intensive care.
Officials with the public health unit in Haldimand-Norfolk have announced an outbreak of COVID-19 at Delhi Long Term Care Centre after a staff member there tested positive.
The entire region has seven more cases, bringing the total number since the pandemic began to 874 positive cases. There have also been 34 COVID-related deaths.
Huron-Perth Public Health is reporting 101 active cases of COVID-19, and 70 new cases reported between Dec. 24 and Dec. 27th.
The health unit said another person in Huron-Perth has died from the virus, and their death is not linked to any of the five active COVID-19 outbreaks at long-term care homes in the region.
There's also an outbreak of the virus at Listowel Memorial Hospital. The health unit said four patients and nine staff there have tested positive.