Feeling unwell? COVID-19 cases are on the rise in the London area

The Middlesex London Health Unit (MLHU) is seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases, with more people winding up in hospital and an increase in outbreaks at long-term care homes.

Viral infection data released Tuesday shows a steady increase in cases, with eight new outbreaks declared in institutions and an average of 31 people hospitalized this past week. The health unit says four people have died since the end of August. 

"COVID-19 is now what we call endemic to our region, to Canada, to the globe. Prior to the pandemic, we would consider from the beginning of November to the end of March as being flu season. Now what we're seeing is the respiratory season is potentially starting a bit earlier," said Dr. Joanne Kearon, the MLHU's acting medical officer of health.

The percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 is considered very high at the moment, according to Kearon. A quarter of people being tested are testing positive, however, the number of being tested is much smaller than during the height of the pandemic, with most testing happening for hospitalized people or people associated with outbreaks, she said.

On top of respiratory virus season potentially happening earlier, outbreaks at healthcare facilities are happening more often, Kearon said.

"Prior to the pandemic, we wouldn't see [respiratory virus] outbreaks in long-term care homes and retirement homes throughout the summer. Almost like a summer break," she said. 

"COVID-19 outbreaks continued throughout the summer at a lower rate than during this respiratory season, but they did continue and we are starting to see them pick up again."

The virus also made a return at this time last year, peaking in the colder winter weather before slowly tapering off in the spring. Ontario is currently waiting, as are other provinces, for Health Canada to release the latest vaccination. It instructed all health units across the province to withdraw and destroy its remaining supply of XBB vaccines on Sept. 1.

Health Canada said the expectation is the new vaccine targeting the latest strains of Omicron circulating in the country will be available in early Oct. 

Kearon said the MLHU is expecting doses to arrive within that time frame, which will immediately be put to use.

On top of vaccinations, Kearon said immunity stemming from previous infections continues to provide many in the community with protection, however, updated vaccinations are recommended when possible.

Data limited

Earlier this year, the Ontario government withdrew funding for wastewater monitoring stations from 60 locations, including two in London, and four just outside the city. 

As of June, the federal program has just four such location sites, all in Toronto. The Public Health Agency of Canada had said at the time it would be expanding to four additional cities. 

According to Kearon, there's no wastewater surveillance happening in London.