News

High count across Ontario again

Ontario recorded 1,822 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, Nov. 28, down only slightly from the new record high of 1,855 on Friday, Nov. 29. Southwestern Public Health was reporting six cases in St. Thomas and area, three in Aylmer and area, two in Central Elgin, one in Bayham and one in Dutton Dunwich.…

Read More

Church of God pastor ticketed for protest

Aylmer Church of God Pastor Henry Hildebrandt, at his home on Friday, Nov. 27, was served with a ticket by two London Police officers for participating in a “Freedom Rally” that allegedly breached the law by involving more than 25 persons assembling outdoors on Sunday, Nov. 22. Pastor Hildebrandt’s son Herbert broadcast the serving of…

Read More

Record set for new COVID-19 cases in Ontario

Ontario set a record on Friday, Nov. 27, with 1,855 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the province. Locally, Southwestern Public Health was reporting five cases in St. Thomas and area, two in Bayham, two in Central Elgin and one in Dutton Dunwich. In Oxford, 19 cases were being tracked in Woodstock and area, seven…

Read More

Aylmer “Freedom Rally” organizer charged

Aylmer Police Service announced the following on their social media page Thursday afternoon: – Emergency Order breach “Freedom March” Protest Aylmer Police Service has completed their investigation regarding “Freedom March” protest rally that occurred in the Town of Aylmer on the 24th of October and 7th of November 2020. Following the review of the relevant…

Read More

St. Thomas Police charge “freedom rally” organizers

The St. Thomas Police Service is moving forward with charges against two individuals identified as organizers of a recent “freedom rally.” The rally took place in the city on Saturday, Nov. 14. About 200 people gathered to protest COVID-19 safety protocols.

Read More

Sixth COVID-19-linked death

A sixth death linked to COVID-19 in the Southwestern Public Health region of Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford was announced on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 25. Communications Manager Megan Cornwall, in a statement, said, “Southwestern Public Health was saddened to learn of the in-hospital death of a male in his 70s on Monday November 23, 2020…

Read More

St. Thomas Police announce business COVID-19 inspections

St. Thomas Police announced on Wednesday, Nov. 25, that starting this week, they would partner with city bylaw officers and Southwestern Public Health inspectors to ensure local businesses and facilities were in compliance with the Reopening Ontario Act, which sets pandemic restrictions. The inspections would be conducted at random, police stated. COVID-19 safety plans had…

Read More

London Police charge organizers of anti-mask protest

Three organizers of a “Freedom Rally” held Sunday, Nov. 22, in London have been charged by London Police. Police said the three, all London women, 44, 36 and 37 years old, had been warned beforehand that the rally would be a breach of the Reopening Ontario Act and they could face charges. Despite that, the…

Read More

COVID-19 update for Nov. 25

Southwestern Public Health was reporting four ongoing confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Aylmer and area on Wednesday, Nov. 25, down from six the previous day. Bayham saw a slight increase to two cases from one, and St. Thomas and area remained steady at four, Central Elgin at two and Dutton Dunwich at one. In Oxford,…

Read More

Big drop in Southwestern COVID-19 cases

Southwestern Public Health was reporting substantial drops in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across its region on Tuesday morning, Nov. 24. Aylmer and area went to six cases from 10 on Monday, St. Thomas and area to four from five, Central Elgin stayed steady at two and Bayham at one, and a new case…

Read More