London, ON – The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) will hold a news conference this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. to provide updates related to the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit and Dr. Alex Summers, the MLHU’s Associate Medical Officer of Health will give an overview of three rapidly evolving matters related to the Health Unit’s case investigation work and the rollout of its COVID-19 vaccination program:

• The updated case data posted on the Health Unit’s online dashboard today includes four cases that were identified as the Delta variant. These cases are between the ages of 18 and 31, none of them have travelled recently and there are no apparent epidemiological links between them.
• The MLHU was advised earlier today that it will soon be receiving a substantial delivery of COVID-19 vaccine that will allow it to increase the number of appointments available at the Western Fair District Agriplex and Earl Nichols Recreation Centre vaccination clinics.
• The Health Unit’s vaccine forecasting suggests that the vaccine supply and increased availability of vaccination appointments will allow it to expand the eligibility for shortened second dose intervals to a much larger group as early as tomorrow.

The news conference will be held on the Microsoft Teams video conferencing platform at 3:00 p.m. A link to the news conference will be sent via email to media and newsrooms this afternoon. Please check your email for the link from Carolynne Gabriel at the Health Unit.

Dr. Mackie and Dr. Summers will take media questions virtually at the conclusion of the announcement portion of the news conference.

Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit
519-617-0570 (cell)