London-area cases of COVID-19 are expected to grow after a health-care worker at University Hospital was among two new cases Tuesday, public health officials say.

Middlesex-London Health Unit officials say they are following up with patients and staff at University Hospital who were seen by, or worked closely with the unnamed staff member, who went to work while showing symptoms.

The woman in her 20s recently had travelled to Las Vegas, the health unit said Tuesday. She is self-isolating in her home.

The other new London-area case is an assistant Crown attorney in her 40s who recently travelled to Sint Maarten. She was assessed at London Health Sciences Centre and also is in self-isolation in her home.

What the public should take from this is were going to see the number of cases in our region grow, said associate medical officer of health Alex Summers. The people with whom the infected women have come into contact have been notified, he said.

An internal memo sent to London courthouse staff early Tuesday said the building would be closed temporarily for a thorough cleaning after a worker tested positive for the virus.

The new cases bring the London and Middlesex County total to four and seven in the region since the global pandemic began.

We continue to hear from a number of people across the region who have concerns about COVID-19 and (we) are communicating with those who require follow-up and testing, said Summers.

At this time, the best thing to do is follow the standard public health advice that can help keep ourselves and our community healthy.

A police officer walks past vehicles carrying people waiting to be seen by health-care professionals at the drive-through coronavirus assessment centre at Londons Oakridge arena Tuesday. (Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press)

Both of the recent cases are in people who would have contracted the illness while travelling, Summers said in an interview.

They are not connected to any of the other cases in the region, Summers said, nor are they connected to each other.

The two new cases are the latest in Ontario, which has seen 185 reported cases of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China, late last year. One Ontario resident has died.

The first London case was a Western University student in her 20s who returned to London from Wuhan in January. She has recovered.

On Saturday, public health officials in London announced a second case of the virus in a Strathroy health-care worker. That person remains in self-isolation.

In the wider region, one case has been reported in St. Marys and two in Grey-Bruce.

COVID-19 cases in Canada have surpassed 440 as cases worldwide top 184,000.

With files from Free Press reporter Dan Brown

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COVID-19: London cases expected to grow after health-care worker one of two new cases - The London Free Press