MIDDLESEX CENTRE, ONT. -- The Middlesex-London Health Unit is reporting 27 new COVID-19 cases Friday, the highest single-day count since the pandemic began in March.

The previous record was reported Oct. 12, when a single-day high of 25 cases was reported. Since March, the region has only seen seven days with more than 20 cases.

The jump marks a sharp contrast to the four cases reported on Thursday.

MLHU Medical Officer of Health Dr. Chris Mackie says the spike is due to community transmission, and cannot be blamed on a testing backlog.

“These 27 cases come from across the community. There’s a real range of exposure types, everything from people in the taxi industry, Uber drivers, long-haul truck drivers, people in the service industry, it’s a pretty broad range.”

However, Mackie added, "These cases are diagnosed today, but are actually spread back over the last two weeks, so clearly this has been spreading in the community and continues to do so."

Of the cases, 13 are in people under the age of 30, and Mackie says with the second wave here it's time to "double down on the actions" needed to keep everyone safe.

The new cases bring the total in the region to 1,198, including 1,062 resolved and 62 deaths, leaving 74 active cases.

There were no new deaths Friday, but the region has reported five deaths in the last three weeks.

There are ongoing outbreaks at three seniors’ homes in the area, which have accounted for 222 cases and 39 deaths to date. None of the new cases appear to be linked to seniors’ facilities.

A second case was announced Friday at Sir Arthur Carty Catholic Elementary School in London, just a day after the first case at the school was confirmed.

The London District Catholic School Board says all staff and families have been notified and the school remains open with buses running. Anyone identified as a close contact will be contacted by the MLHU.

Here is where the cases stand in other area regions based on the most recent publicly available data:

  • Elgin-Oxford – three new, 49 active, 367 total, 313 resolved, five deaths
  • Sarnia-Lambton – none new, six active, 375 total, 344 resolved, 25 deaths
  • Grey-Bruce – none new, seven active, 181 total, 174 resolved, no deaths
  • Huron-Perth – eight new, 20 active, 169 total, 142 resolved, seven deaths
  • Haldimand-Norfolk – four new, 28 active, 561 total, 496 resolved, 32 deaths

The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit is reporting a new agricultural outbreak at Shuyler Farms in Simcoe, Ont. after three positive cases of the disease.

Across the province, Ontario reported more than 1,000 new infections for the third time in a week, pushing the even-day average to a new record high.