For the second time this week, the Middlesex-London Health Unit has declared a COVID-19 outbreak linked to a downtown bar. Health Unit case investigators are following up with five individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 after being at Lost Love Social House, located at 153 Carling Street in downtown London, on the evening of Saturday, August 7th into the early morning hours of August 8th. The Health Unit has not determined whether any of these cases have been linked to other outbreaks.
The Health Unit recommends that anyone who was at Lost Love Social House on the night of Saturday, August 7th monitor themselves for the development of COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of their vaccination status. Should any signs or symptoms develop, the Health Unit recommends visiting a COVID-19 Assessment Centre in London to get tested.
“This is the second outbreak we’ve declared in the last four days that has been tied to a downtown bar, where we know people have been gathering without masks and where it is much more difficult to follow public health guidance,” says Dr. Alex Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “These situations are particularly challenging as we know that the age groups attending these places have lower vaccination rates and the Delta variant is circulating widely among this demographic. These are the situations where the fourth wave really has the potential to take hold.”
The Health Unit continues to advise strongly that that those who are not yet vaccinated receive their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible, making sure to book a second dose appointment four weeks after their first, in order to be more fully protected.
When gathering with others, the Health Unit also recommends doing so outdoors, while ensuring that everyone in attendance is vaccinated. The continued use of masks and maintaining a physical distance of six feet from others are also recommended.
For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit the Middlesex-London Health Unit’s website at www.healthunit.com/covid-19-vaccine and for a complete schedule of walk-in pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic options, visit www.healthunit.com/pop-up-vaccination-clinics.
Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit,
519-617-0570 (cell)
Spokesperson:
Dr. Alex Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit