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
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.