LONDON

MLHU advises caution this long weekend: new COVID-19 cases hit 19

Published Friday, October 9, 2020 1:20PM EDT Last Updated Friday, October 9, 2020 4:48PM EDT

A man has his temperature checked prior to entering an Apple store in Montreal, Saturday, September 26, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada and around the world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

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LONDON, ONT -- The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) is reporting a jump in new COVID-19 cases ahead of the holiday weekend.

MLHU says there are 19 new cases in the region Friday, nine more than Thursday.

As the new cases continue in the double digits this week, it’s something that has not been seen locally since mid-April. Friday's number is also the biggest one-day caseload jump since mid-April as well.

The health unit is asking people to be cautious this weekend and not travel to hot spots – including Toronto and Ottawa and other places in Quebec.

It is also asking students not to travel back to their hometowns.

Thursday’s new cases bring the total of confirmed cases in Middlesex-London to 951. There are 819 recovered cases and 57 deaths, leaving 75 active cases.

There were 10 new cases for the region on Thursday, 11 on Wednesday and 10 on Tuesday.

“Those case numbers are reflective of the patterns seen in the hot spots of Peel, Toronto, and Ottawa," says MLHU's associated medical officer of health Dr. Alex Summers.

"I think that it’s a reminder to all of us here locally, that as we go into a Thanksgiving long weekend, that it’s really important to pay attention to the new recommendations coming out from the health unit and the province."

This Thanksgiving will be different for families with MLHU advising gatherings be restricted to those in households only.

London’s two COVID-19 assessment centres will be open on Thanksgiving Monday.

The Carling Heights Assessment Centre will be open from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm on holiday Monday, while the Assessment Centre at Oakridge Arena will be open on from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Carling Heights will also be open Saturday and Sunday as usual, while Oakridge will be closed as normal.

Carling Assessment Centre continues to use the time-card appointment system until the transition to an e-booking solution is complete.

Oakridge Assessment Centre shifted to booked appointments only.

There are no new outbreaks reported in long-term care facilities however, there are five outbreaks that remain active including Earls Court Village, Mount Hope, Meadow Park Care Centre, Peoplecare Oak Crossing, and Country Terrace.

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

Elgin and Oxford: One new case, four active, 273 total, 267 recovered, five deaths
Grey-Bruce: Seven active cases, 150 total, 137 recovered, five active cases, no deaths
Sarnia-Lambton: No new cases, no active, 347 total, 322 recovered, 25 deaths
Huron-Perth: Five active cases, 136 total, 126 recovered, five deaths