What you need to know about COVID-19 in London area on Monday
CBC News | Posted: January 25, 2021 6:39 PM | Last Updated: January 25, 2021
Here are key updates on the coronavirus pandemic in the region
Recent developments:
- Ontario has updated its vaccination plan to focus on care home residents
- Four employees at London's Piero's Pizza tested positive for the virus
- Ontario reported another 1,958 cases of COVID-19 on Monday
What's the latest in the London region?
The Middlesex London Health Unit (MLHU) is reporting that two additional people have died of the virus, including a man in his 90s and a woman in her 70s who were both were living in long-term care. A total of 170 people have died of the virus since the pandemic was declared.
On Monday, the London region was dealing with 1,569 known active cases. There were 27 new cases reported Monday, while the weekend saw 93 additional infections.
A total of 3,731 people have recovered. About one-quarter of them would have been treated at the COVID-19 Care Clinic in London. It's one of six specialized clinics in Canada that deal with both acute and long-term infections.
What's happening with vaccines?
The MLHU shut down the vaccine clinic at the Western Fair Agriplex for two weeks due to a Canada-wide vaccine shortage. Friday was the last day for health care workers with pre-booked appointments to get their shot.
The temporary shortage of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine had the Ford government say Monday that it's going to give available doses to its most vulnerable care home residents and delay them for health-care workers.
Available doses of vaccines will be channelled only to residents of long-term care and at-risk retirement homes, as well as First Nations seniors living in eldercare settings. The goal is to have all those who fall into one of these groups be given a first dose of vaccine by Feb. 5, 10 days earlier than first planned.
What's the situation outside of London?
Southwestern Public Health, which takes in Woodstock and St.Thomas, had nine new cases Monday, a significant drop from the 40 new cases it reported the day before. That region is currently dealing with 249 known active cases.
Huron Perth Public Health is reporting 36 new cases of the virus Monday with 137 known active cases in the community.
What about hospitals and long-term care homes?
The London Health Science Centre has six patients in the Intensive Care Unit with COVID-19. The region's largest hospital said Monday there were 15 patients being treated in other wards.
Right now, the adult emergency department at University Hospital is the only unit that's had an outbreak. It was declared Jan. 15 and only involved staff members. Patients have not contracted the virus, the hospital said, as a result.
A number of seniors' facilities are experiencing outbreaks and many are reporting deaths associated with the virus.
Middlesex-London has 14 long-term care and retirement homes in an outbreak situation, the most recent at Dorchester Terrace which was reported last week.
At Middlesex Terrace, the home where a 19-yr-old London man was working as a cleaner and later died, there are 150 cases associated with the outbreak. The MLHU said 15 people have died.
In Tillsonburg, Maple Manor is reporting 20 people have died and 85 residents and 52 staff have tested positive for the virus. Tavistock's People's Care is also dealing with a large outbreak with 46 residents and 36 staff infected.