Ontario reported 1,780 new cases of COVID-19 today (Friday) while Southwestern Public Health is advising of 19 new cases, including eight in Aylmer and one in Southwold. One death was reported – a man in his 80s – bringing the total to eight since the pandemic began. Nine cases were resolved.
In a release today from the health unit, medical officer of health Dr. Joyce Lock observed, “These numbers are predictive of a move to the Red Tier of Ontario’s Safe and Open Strategy which will have a significant impact on our local businesses. These numbers – some of the highest of the year for us – are also predictive of an increase in serious illness, hospitalizations, ICU stays, and death.”
There are 72 confirmed ongoing cases in the health unit’s coverage area, with 19 in Woodstock, 14 in Aylmer, 12 in St. Thomas, 10 in Ingersoll, five in Norwich, four in Tillsonburg and Zorra, two in Blandford-Blenheim and one each in Southwold and SW Oxford.
Two students have tested positive at East Elgin Secondary School in Aylmer and one each at St. Joseph’s High School and Forest Park Public School in St. Thomas.
One staff member at Woodingford Lodge in Woodstock has tested positive.
There are no hospitalizations at this time.
Fifty-two of the cases are individuals under the age of 50, of those 16 are under the age of 20.
The number of resolved cases is 521.
There are 34.0 ongoing confirmed cases per 100,000 population in the SWPH region as compared to 49.1 per 100,000 in the Middlesex-London Health Unit region.
The assessment centre at St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital undertook 283 tests on Tuesday.
