Seven London-area seniors' facilities have COVID-19 outbreaks

Threemore seniors' facilities have COVID-19 outbreaks, bringing the total number of outbreaks in the London region to seven.

According to records from the Middlesex-London Health Unit, the most recent outbreaks areat Meadow Park Care Centre, Kensington Village and Earls Court Village in London.Public health officials said an outbreak is declared when there's a single case among either a resident or staff member at a facility.

There are no details about how many people have contracted the virus at either long-term care home.

On Thursday, CBC News reported that there were cases at four seniors' facilities in the London region.

Records showed there were two cases being treated at Grand Wood Retirement Residencein London, one case at Seasons Retirement Community in Strathroy, two cases at Henley Place in Londonand one case at Chelsey Park in London.

CBC News has learned that the case at Chelsey Park is a staff member.

"We have taken immediate steps to reduce the chance of transmission and keep our residents and staff safe and healthy," saidRichard Franzke, the vice president of communications for Southbridge Health Care LP, which manages the home in London.

"All residents on the floor where the staff member worked are now 'home quarantined'in their rooms.This will continue until the Middlesex-London Health Unit suggests further change," he said, adding that a small number of staff who worked with the staff member who tested positive are in quarantine at home.

As of Friday, Franzke said no residents or other staff members had tested positive for the virus.

On Saturday,Dr. Barbara Yaffe, associate chief medical officer of health for the province, said there were at least 36 outbreaks in long-term care homes across Ontario, with 54 deaths related to those outbreaks.

Officials saidthey are looking at ways to limit the movement of staff between different long-term care homes. They're also asking staff who work at facilitieswith outbreaks to wait for testingbefore going to work at another facility.