London region logs 69 new COVID-19 cases as hospitalizations reach all-time high

Recent developments:

• Ontario reported 4,447 cases of COVID-19 and 19 more deaths Monday. 
• The London Health Sciences Centre is treating 86 patients for COVID-19. 
• A woman in her 60s is the latest in the region to die after contracting the virus. 
• The number of cases screened positive for variants of concern now tops 1,000. 

What's the latest for the London area?

The Middlesex London Health Unit (MLHU) reported 69 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, the lowest daily figure during April. The total number of known active cases in the region is now at 1,107. 

The region continues to see an increase in cases screening positive for variants of concern. There have now been 1,070 cases confirmed to be a variant of concern. Meanwhile, a total of 197 cases have screened positive for the mutated virus.  

An additional COVID-related death was reported Monday. This time it was a woman in her 60s who was not associated with a seniors' facility. Over the course of the ongoing pandemic, 195 people have died after contracting the virus.

What's the situation at local hospitals? 

The number of people in hospital being treated for COVID-19 reached an all-time high on Monday. 

According to numbers released by the London Health Sciences Centre, the hospital is caring for 86 patients with COVID-19, including 39 in critical care. 

For weeks, the hospital has been scaling back on the number of surgeries it was performing in order to make way for a higher volume of patients with COVID-19. The hospital is also taking patients from hospitals across the province to help with capacity in other jurisdictions. 

Staff across the hospital system have also been reassigned to help treat COVID-19 patients. 

As of Monday, 12 staff members had tested positive for the virus. 

Pop-up vaccination clinic for Indigenous people taking place this weekend

A two-day vaccination clinic is taking place at the N'Amerind Friendship Centre gymnasium on Friday and Saturday. 

The pop-up clinic was set up in partnership between the Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC), N'Amerind Friendship Centre, Atlohsa Family Healing Services and the MLHU and is aimed at engaging Indigenous people who may not feel comfortable in traditional health care settings like the Western Fair Agriplex.

"In particular, the clinic will support those who have experienced trauma, including within the residential school system and the healthcare system, or anyone who prefers more familiar grounds on which to receive their healthcare," reads a media release from the partnering organizations. 

Indigenous adults are a priority group identified in the province's vaccine strategy. 

"We are committed to delivering vaccinations as quickly, effectively and respectfully as possible, so we can continue to improve the health outcomes for the Indigenous communities we serve," said Brian Dokis, SOAHAC's chief executive officer. 

Those interested in booking a vaccine slot for the clinic are asked to call N'Amerind directly at 519-672-0131

COVID-19 across the region and beyond

Southwestern Public Health reported an additional 57 new COVID-19 cases Monday. The region currently has 190 active cases. St. Thomas has the most cases in the region followed by Woodstock with 70 and 40 active cases, respectively. 

Huron Perth Public Health logged 13 additional cases, leaving the total number of active cases at 49. Over the course of the pandemic the region has reported a total of 1,528 cases. 

Meanwhile, Ontario reported  4,447 cases of COVID-19 and 19 more deaths of people with the virus on Monday. It's the sixth consecutive day the province records more than 4,000 daily infections. 

The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 across the province is sitting at 2,202, according to the Ministry of Health. Of those, 755 are being treated in intensive care units. 

Starting Tuesday, the province will being to offer the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to adults aged 40 and older, said Ontario's Chief Medical of Health Dr. David Williams. Previously, the vaccine was only being offered to those 55 and up. About 1,400 pharmacies across the province are administering that vaccine.