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A weeks-long string of daily increases in the number of COVID-19 patients in London hospital ended Wednesday as the number dropped, one of a few optimistic new figures.
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London Health Sciences Center on Wednesday was caring for 161 patients with the virus, down from 166 one day prior – marking the first day-over-day decrease, per unofficial LFP records, since provincewide restrictions were put in place two weeks ago.
Of those 161, 87 are being treated for COVID and the other 74 are hospitalized with other ailments but also have the virus. The number of LHSC staff currently diagnosed with COVID was 311, down dramatically from a high of 511 late last week.
The number of COVID patients at LHSC is still almost triple the level when the restrictions intended to slow the virus’s spread were put in place on Jan. 5.
But the new numbers suggest there may be reasons for optimism as the community’s top public-health official, Dr. Alex Summers, indicates the wave of the highly contagious Omicron variant may have peaked locally. Premier Doug Ford has said he expects later this week to announce an end to some restrictions.
Local vaccination efforts continue to gain ground. The number of London and Middlesex County residents 12 and older with two doses has hit 89.8% – up from 89.5% last week, suggesting it may surpass the 90% milestone within the next week.
There have been 14 local deaths related to the virus in the past two weeks, bringing the pandemic death toll here to 274. There were no new local deaths recorded on Wednesday.
CORONAVIRUS CASES: THE NUMBERS
(*Figures for Southwestern Ontario as of Wednesday, January 19, 2021, at 12 pm)
Ontario — 969,437 squares
London-Middlesex — 26,534 squares, 274 deaths
Elgin-Oxford — 9,298 squares, 129 deaths
Brant — 7,240 squares, 39 deaths
Chatham-Kent — 5,359 squares, 38 deaths
Sarnia-Lambton — 7,999 squares, 101 deaths
Huron Perth — 4,559 squares, 78 deaths
Grey-Bruce — 5,049 squares, 19 deaths
Windsor-Essex — 32,260 squares, 521 deaths