COVID-19 cases drop, MLHU urges vaccination as doses set to expire
The Middlesex-London Health Unit is reporting two new COVID-19 cases and no deaths Wednesday.
The region has been in single digit cases for several days, but this is the lowest count in more than a month. Two cases were also reported in June 26.
The region now has a total of 12,754 cases and 229 deaths, with 12,476 cases resolved leaving 49 active. There are now 3,592 cases with a variant of concern, including 91 of the more contagious Delta variant.
The London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is caring for eight inpatients with COVID-19 with fewer than five in critical care.
The hospital is dealing with the only active outbreak in the region, in its B7-200 Adult Inpatient Mental Health/PICU unit. Fewer than five cases are currently associated with the outbreak.
For the week ending July 25, the London region saw a one per cent positivity rate, slightly above the provincial seven-day average of 0.9 per cent.
The region's positivity climbed slightly at the beginning of July, but has mostly been declining in subsequent weeks.
THOUSANDS OF DOSES TO EXPIRE
Meanwhile the health unit continues to encourage area residents to get vaccinated, saying it has over 21,300 doses of the Moderna vaccine that have been thawed and will expire on Aug. 12. This does not include doses already allocated for those with appointments.
More than 81,000 doses of Moderna have been administered in the region since July 1, but there has been a decline in the number of vaccinations over the last two weeks.
National and local health officials say the mRNA vaccines -- Pfizer and Moderna -- are considered interchangeable.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Chris Mackie said in a statement, “We don’t want this vaccine to go to waste, so we are asking people who aren’t fully vaccinated to join us in the fight against COVID-19 and consider receiving a first or second dose of Moderna.”
REGIONAL COVID-19 COUNTS
Here are the most recently available numbers from other local public health authorities:
- Elgin-Oxford – two new, 15 active, 3,939 total, 3,840 resolved, 84 deaths, 866 variants
- Grey-Bruce – two new, 85 active, 2,085 total, 1,979 resolved, 18 deaths
- Haldimand-Norfolk – one new, nine active, 2,732 total, 2,66957 resolved, 48 deaths
- Huron-Perth – five active, 1,937 total, 1,875 resolved, 57 deaths, 348 variants
- Sarnia-Lambton – one new, six active, 3,637 total, 3,563 resolved, 68 deaths, 675 variants
Ontario health officials reported 158 new infections across the province Wednesday and four new deaths.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.