News
Police given more pandemic powers; province shuts borders
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Friday, April 16, that police would be given greater power to stop and question anyone about potential violations of the COVID-19 “stay-at-home” order to combat the third wave of the virus’s spread. Anyone refusing to say why they’re out and where they reside could face a $750 ticket. The stay-at-home…
Read MoreAlmost a quarter of ongoing COVID-19 cases involve those under 20
Southwestern Public Health reported 30 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford on Friday, April 16, up from 23 the previous day. The health unit is tracking 198 ongoing cases, up from 180. Almost 25 percent of the current active cases involved residents under 20 years old, a major change from…
Read MoreSouthwestern reports 72nd death linked to COVID-19
Southwestern Public Health announced Thursday morning, April 15, the death of a Woodstock woman in her 80s related to COVID-19. That’s the 72nd death to date connected to the virus in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford. Southwestern also reported 23 new confirmed cases of the virus Thursday, down from 30 the previous day. The health…
Read MoreTillsonburg to get vaccination clinic
Dr. Joyce Lock, medical officer of health for Southwestern Public Health, revealed on Wednesday, April 14, that a COVID-19 immunization clinic would soon be announced for Tillsonburg. During a weekly news briefing, she explained that an existing mass immunization clinic in St. Thomas could handle up to 800 patients a day, but one in Woodstock…
Read MoreSpecial needs educators can get vaccine
Southwestern Public Health announced Wednesday, April 14, that educators who provided direct, in-person support to children with complex special needs were now eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations. While regular school classes won’t resume after spring break, those for certain special-needs children will. The health unit also stated that, due to a scarce vaccine supply, the provincial…
Read MoreSt. Thomas cases on the rise
Southwestern Public Health was reporting 30 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, April 14, down from 32 on Tuesday. The total number of ongoing cases being tracked by the health unit in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford increased to 182, up from 177. St. Thomas and area jumped to 65 ongoing cases Wednesday from…
Read MoreAnother death linked to COVID-19
Southwestern Public Health was reporting 32 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford on Tuesday, April 13. The health unit also recorded its 71st death linked to the virus, a Woodstock woman in her 60s. The number of ongoing cases being tracked by the health unit rose to 177 Tuesday from…
Read MoreNo return to school after spring break
Thames Valley District School board announced Monday, April 12, that at the instruction of the Ontario government, in-person learning would not resume across the province after the spring break this week. All elementary and secondary students who had attended classes at schools would shift to full remote learning Monday, April 19, the board stated. No…
Read MoreSTEGH eyes potential service reductions
St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital is warning that, while continuing as normal for now, surgical, ambulatory and diagnostic imaging services there might have to be curtailed due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the region. In a statement issued Monday afternoon, April 12, the statement said, “STEGH might need to implement service reductions…
Read More60 and over eligible for vaccine
The minimum age for Southwestern Public Health residents in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford to register for COVID-19 vaccinations at mass immunization clinics in St. Thomas and Woodstock will be lowered to 60 effective Tuesday morning, April 13. Anyone born in 1961 or earlier will get able to book an appointment starting at 8 a.m.…
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