News Headlines

Southwestern Public Health announced on Thursday, March 4, that two residents of the Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford region had fallen ill with a COVID-19 “variant of concern,” but have already recovered. The health unit believed the virus was caught by the pair, who reside together, during travel outside of Canada. Megan Cornwell, on behalf…

Southwestern Public Health announced late Friday afternoon, Feb. 26, that as of Monday, March 1, Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford would move to the “Orange-Restrict” zone from the current “Red-Control.” That will result in the relaxation of some COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Medical Officer of Health Dr. Joyce Lock, in a statement, said “Following a very…

Since Feb. 22, 18 positive casers of COVID-19 have been confirmed at Ontario Police College, Brent Ross, spokesman for the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General, reported. All were in self-isolation, and the college had suspended classes for Friday, March 26, he stated, so testing could be conducted of all students and staff. “Throughout the…

Southwestern Public Health is reporting that 11 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 appeared in Aylmer and area on Thursday, Feb. 25, and that they involve students and/or staff at Ontario Police College. Testing is ongoing, the health unit stated, so that number was subject to possible change over the next two days. In total, Southwestern…

Southwestern Public Health was reporting no confirmed ongoing cases of COVID-19 in Aylmer and area on Tuesday, Feb. 23, down from one on Monday. Six new cases were confirmed by testing in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford on Tuesday, but the number of ongoing cases across the region dropped to 35 from 40. St. Thomas…

Southwestern Public Health reported no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, Feb. 22, the first time that has happened in months. The number of ongoing cases in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford dropped to 40 Monday from 43 on Sunday. St. Thomas and area stayed at nine ongoing cases and Aylmer and area, Dutton…

Southwestern Public Health was reporting two fatalities connected to COVID-19, one involving at resident at Aylmer Retirement Residence, on Saturday, Feb. 20. That brought the number of deaths in the Southwestern region linked to COVID-19 to 67. One of the fatalities was an Elgin woman in her 90s who resided at Aylmer Retirement Residence, and…

A major fire erupted in at least one barn at Walker Farms in Summers Corners on Wednesday, Feb. 17, just before 5 p.m. Firefighters streamed in from Malahide, Bayham, Central Elgin and Aylmer to fight the blaze, including Aylmer’s aerial truck, seen here. Meanwhile, workers drove cows that had been evacuated from barns towards waiting…

Dr. Joyce Lock, medical officer of health for Southwestern Public Health, says she’s pleased with the continued downward trend in the number of COVID-19 cases in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford, but doesn’t want the public becoming complacent about precautions they should take. During a weekly news conference Wednesday, Feb. 17, she said everyone should…

Southwestern Public Health has announced that Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford will be in the “red-control” zone of COVID-19 restrictions when a provincial lockdown comes to an end on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Events and social gatherings will be restricted to a maximum of five persons indoors or 25 outside. Religious, wedding and funeral services can…