London region sees another COVID-19 death, 8 new cases

COVID-19 cases in the London region now total 170, after eight new cases were announced Thursday along with another death.

Coronavirus has now killed a total of eight people in the Middlesex-London region.

A spokesperson for the Middlesex-London Health Unit said the latest local coronavirus victim was a woman in her 90s.

This is the third consecutive day the number of new cases in the region has dropped. There were 15 new cases on Tuesday and 12 new cases on Wednesday. A total of 21 new cases were announced on each of Saturday and Sunday.

But local health officials say it remains crucial that people continue to adhere to strict physical distancing rules to curb the spread of the virus that has infected more than 20,000 Canadians and killed almost 500.

• INTERACTIVE | Tracking the coronavirus in Canada.

Also, they say it's crucial that people break with Easter and Passover traditions over the coming long weekend and not get together with people — including close relatives — who don't already live with them. 

Dr. Chris Mackie, London's medical officer of health, said in this time of outbreak, families and faith-based communities must find new ways to celebrate that don't involve getting together in person. 

"There is substantial COVID-19 activity in the community right now, so we need to find creative ways to connect with one another at a distance during Passover and the Easter weekend," he said. 

"Plan to celebrate and share meals only with those who are already close household contacts, while using technology to stay connected to family and friends."

Easter via Skype

Mackie said his family is having its Easter dinner with relatives via Skype. 

He said keeping apart is particularly important to protect seniors, who make up the bulk of fatal coronavirus cases. 

"Even if you aren't sick, there is a risk that gathering with your elderly relatives could make them sick," he said. 

Mackie also said people should not use this weekend to travel away from home to visit cottages or lakeside communities.

"If we travel to rural areas, we could take the virus into new environments," he said. 

He warned that smaller communities often don't have enough health care resources to care for visitors who fall ill. 

At a media briefing Thursday, Mackie said local case data suggest coronavirus cases are not higher in any one specific area of the London region. 

"This virus is in every neighbourhood and we should be taking precautions no matter what area you live in," he said. 

Of the 170 COVID-19 cases in the London region, 15 are linked to long-term care homes and five at retirement homes. 

As of Thursday, there are currently coronavirus outbreaks at 10 London-area seniors residences or care homes.

A new outbreak announced Thursday is related to a case at the Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care in north London. 

Any confirmed case of COVID-19 inside a facility meets the definition of an outbreak.

Also on Thursday, the Ontario government announced 483 new cases of COVID-19 to bring the province's total number of cases to 5,759. The province is reporting 26 new deaths Thursday, however CBC News has counted 223 deaths based on data from local public health units.