Community outbreak declared after Walmart cashiers and more Western students test positive

The City of London is now dealing with three community outbreaks as the number of young people testing positive for COVID-19 continues to rise, prompting health officials to declare the region has officially entered the 'second wave' of the pandemic. 

The Middlesex London Health Unit (MLHU) said two outbreaks are associated with Western University students, including a large party held last weekend attended by "dozens" of students. Also new is an outbreak that involves three cashiers at the Walmart on Hyde Park Road.

The community outbreaks have prompted officials in the region to ask the province to impose rules that would limit the number of people allowed to gather to 10 indoors and 25 outdoors. 

"Fortunately, this outbreak in Walmart is small, at this point we only have three cases associated with the outbreak and there was very little direct contact between the employees infected and the public," said Dr. Chris Mackie, the region's medical officer of health. "We encourage people who have symptoms that might be associated with that Walmart to go to an assessment centre. If you don't have symptoms, you do not have to go." 

The health unit reported 13 new COVID cases Friday, which includes more Western students and the Walmart cashiers. Ten of the new infections are people who are 19 or younger. Three others are in their 20s. Eleven of those new cases are students and nine are associated with the house party. 

Yesterday, the health unit made public that 28 university students were infected with the virus and mapped out how a core group started a community outbreak. In total, 39 students have tested positive in the last week. 

A contact tracing graphic shows one outbreak originated with about a dozen students, most living together in off-campus houses, engaging in reckless behaviour at downtown bars. In one instance, students shared an e-cigarette, as well as a drink. 

The health unit has been working with students to make sure they're able to self-isolate, in some cases moving them out of their houses and into other locations, Mackie said. 

The Western University students have being criticized by both London Mayor Ed Holder and by Mackie for showing little regard for rules in place to curb the spread of the deadly virus. 

Until campus activities resumed in early September, London had one of the lowest case counts in the province for a city of its size, marking one or two cases daily. Since then, numbers have spiked and testing facilities have been overwhelmed. 

On Thursday, the Carling Heights assessment centre tested 338 people. At Oakridge Arena, 394 people were swabbed. 

Thursday night in downtown London is usually teeming with students out to party, but last night, the same day Western University promised to enforce its student code of conduct off-campus, the streets were quiet. 

President Alan Shepard said punishment could involve a reprimand to full expulsion for behaviours that put others at risk.

The outbreak has prompted Western to halt many non-academic activities on campus, including suspending athletics and recreation activities and in-person student club meetings and events.