MIDDLESEX CENTRE, ONT. -- Six new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Middlesex-London on Wednesday, and four new cases in Elgin and Oxford counties.

The total in Middlesex-London now stands at 717 cases, including 626 resolved and 57 deaths, though it has been more than two months since any deaths were reported.

Of the total, 659 cases are in the City of London, and the vast majority, 603, never needed to be hospitalized, while 189 have been associated with a long-term care or retirement home.

The six new cases include teens and children, a growing trend in recent weeks.

But according to Middlesex-London Health Unit Medical Officer of Health Dr. Chris Mackie, the issue isn’t peers, it’s parents.

"This is a hard one because throughout the pandemic we've recognized the importance of families being together and being close in their homes. Unfortunately, now with people who, particularly those who for work or other reasons tend to travel internationally, we're seeing new cases being brought back and unfortunately that is being transmitted to others in the home.”

In fact, the majority of Wednesday’s cases are from one family, and as is often the case, parents are getting it first and bringing it home.

Mackie says the key is for people to do their best to quarantine, even from family, after international travel.

The number of COVID-19 tests done at London’s two assessment centres have now exceeded 50,000.

In Elgin and Oxford, the new cases bring the total to 239, with 197 resolved and five deaths.

Of the 37 remaining active cases, 16 are in Aylmer, which to date has accounted for just over 30 per cent of all of the cases in the region.

Here is where the case counts stand in other local regions based on the most recent information available from their public health units:

  • Sarnia-Lambton – None new, 12 active cases, 336 total, 299 resolved, 25 deaths
  • Grey-Bruce – None new, six active cases, 127 total, 121 resolved, no deaths
  • Haldimand-Norfolk – None new, 22 active, 471 total cases, 417 resolved, 32 deaths
  • Huron-Perth – Two new, 27 active cases, 108 total, 76 resolved, five deaths

Huron Perth Public Health is dealing with a number of cases related to households connected to Zehr’s Country Market locations in Bayfield and Dashwood, though no customers have reportedly been affected.

Across Ontario, 102 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, the second day in a row the number has climbed over 100.