Sarnia-Lambton had 148 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday morning – three more than the day before – but the number of deaths remained at 14.

The area’s latest deceased patient, a person in their 60s, was reported Monday, but that death was not linked to Landmark Village retirement home in Sarnia or Lambton Meadowview Villa long-term care home near Petrolia, two places where outbreaks have been declared. Four more patients have recovered from the disease, bringing that total to 54.

Six of the deaths and 34 of the confirmed cases – eight staff and 26 residents – are from an outbreak at Landmark. Those figures remained the same as of Monday.

A second institutional outbreak was declared recently at Lambton Meadowview after one employee was reported last week to have tested positive. Normally an employee testing positive for a disease would not trigger an outbreak in a long-term care home, but guidelines have changed with COVID-19, health officials said.

There have been 1,133 local tests for COVID-19, with 13 per cent of those positive, public health officials said. It was 15 per cent Monday and as high as 17 per cent on the weekend.

Priority COVID-19 testing was expanded Thursday in Ontario and now includes essential workers, residents and staff of homeless shelters and group homes, and people living with health-care workers.

Bluewater Health reported Tuesday 15 patients were in hospital with COVID-19 – one less than the previous day – while another 16 suspected to have the disease were awaiting test results.

A local taxi driver has tested positive for COVID-19, so Lambton public health wants people who recently used the service to call the health department.

Anyone who used Greg’s Taxi service April 1, 3, 6, 7, 8 or 10 is urged to call 519-383-8331, public health said in a news release.