MIDDLESEX CENTER, ONT. – The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) reported 16 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, a stark contrast to the last two days.

The new cases brought the total in the region to 1,127, including 1,004 resolved and 60 deaths, leaving 63 active cases.

The spike follows two days of low single-digit numbers after another jump on Monday with 14 cases.

MLHU Health Medical Officer Dr. Chris Mackie said the jump was likely the result of a series of tests being processed in an Ontario laboratory.

He added that the average for the region over the past week or so has remained below 10 cases per day and he is “… pleased to have kept things relatively calm here and hopes it continues.”

Mackie also said the sources of exposure had remained consistent over the past few weeks, such as screening of health workers, close contacts and some via the school’s COVID-19 protocol.

In fact, the Thames Valley District School Board said Thursday that the health unit had confirmed two new school cases of COVID-19, at West Nissouri Public School in Thorndale and at AB Lucas Secondary in north London.

There was no indication whether the cases were students or staff members, but the board said affected families and staff had been informed.

The health unit will only reach people who have been in close contact with the affected person.

Both schools remain open and buses continue to operate.

More than 1,000 cumulative cases occurred in the City of London, while 210 were related to long-term care and nursing homes.

There are six ongoing outbreaks in elderly facilities, and two in educational settings, at Sir Arthur Currie Public School and at West University London Hall Residence.

This is where cases stand in other regions based on the most recent publicly available data, note no one has reported a new death in recent weeks:

• Elgin-Oxford – five new, 17 active, total 317, 295 resolved, five deaths, two outbreaks

• Gray-Bruce – nothing new, five active, 172 total, 167 intractable, no deaths, no outbreaks

• Haldimand-Norfolk – three new, 32 active, 537 total, 468 resolved, 32 deaths, no outbreaks

• Sarnia-Lambton – nothing new, one active, 369 total, 343 resolved, 25 deaths, one outbreak

• Huron-Perth – nothing new, four active, 146 total, 137 completed, five deaths, one outbreak

Across Ontario 936 new infections were reported, as well as 10 new deaths related to COVID-19.