LONDON, ONT -- The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) is reporting 17 new cases of COVID-19 Monday, bringing the total number of cases in the region to 323.

That total includes 80 cases in long-term care and retirement homes, where eight of the region's 22 deaths have also been reported. In fact, four of the six deaths in the last three days have been in long-term care homes.

That's two more deaths in the last 24 hours, while 138 cases have been resolved, which is unchanged since Sunday.

Lambton Public Health is reporting 145 cases on Monday, an increase of 13 cases, and one new death, bringing the total to 14.

The cases also include 50 recovered, while the region is dealing with outbreaks at two institutions.

Despite the high rates of illness, Dr. Chris Mackie, medical officer of health for MLHU, says they appear to be levelling off, with the increase at the provincial level coming largely from an increase in testing.

Still, he says, "This is not the time to relax our intense public health measures and physical distancing…we still have a significant amount of coronavirus in the community."

The growing number of deaths is also not unexpected, with that peak expected to fall about two weeks after the peak in cases, Mackie said Monday.

Huron Perth Public Health is reporting one new death and one new COVID-19 case Monday. The total in the region now stands at 37 cases and four deaths.

The latest death occurred at the Greenwood Court long-term care home in Stratford, where total of three people have died.

As of Monday there have been 44 cases in Elgin and Oxford counties, according to Southwestern Public Health.

There have been a total of three deaths, 13 resolved cases and one institutional outbreak in the area.

While in Grey-Bruce, no new cases were reported Monday, so the total stands at 63 cases, 20 of which have recovered, and no deaths.

Province releases updated projections on COVID-19 spread

Ontario health officials now say the community spread of COVID-19 in Ontario appears to have peaked.

Earlier modelling predicted a peak in May, but officials said Monday restrictions including physical distancing have pushed the peak to now.

The latest modelling shows two types of outbreaks - community spread and long-term care spread - the latter of which seems to be growing.

They are also predicting there will be fewer than 20,000 COVID-19 cases during the pandemic, much less than the previous forecast of 80,000.

- With files from the Canadian Press