NEWS

Local news in and around Aylmer and Elgin County

Elgin woman in her 70s latest COVID-19-related death

February 2, 2022 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health announced on Wednesday morning, Feb. 2, that an Elgin woman in her 70s had died with COVID-19, the 140th such fatality in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford since the pandemic began in March of 2020. The health unit, now updating COVID-19 numbers on Monday, Wednesday and Friday instead of every weekday, reported…

Just over half of Bayham fully vaccinated

February 2, 2022 | 0 Comments

Bayham continues to have the lowest percentage of residents fully vaccinated (two doses) against COVID-19, at 52.6 percent of the total population, followed by the north end of Malahide at 56.4 percent and Aylmer and the south end of Malahide at 62.8 percent, based on data from Southwestern Public Health. By comparison, 89.7 percent of…

John Wise PS closes temporarily, online learning instead

February 1, 2022 | 0 Comments

Thames Valley District School Board announced on Tuesday, Feb. 1, that John Wise Public School in St. Thomas would be temporarily closed as of the next day to in-person learning as the result of staff shortages. Instead, pupils will switch to online learning until returning to the school on Monday, Feb. 7. Classroom teachers are…

Wider eligibility for walk-in appointments

February 1, 2022 | 0 Comments

Effective immediately, Southwestern Public Health will open its mass vaccination clinics in St. Thomas, Tillsonburg and Woodstock to anyone 50 or older seeking a booster dose, pregnant women and anyone seeking a first dose, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. any day they are open, without the need for an advance reservation. The health unit…

Oxford man is 139th COVID-related death

January 31, 2022 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health announced on Monday, Jan. 31, that an Oxford man in his 60s had died in a case related to COVID-19. His was the 139th such death in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March of 2020, and the 26th in January. The health unit also reported some…

Southwestern: 25 deaths so far in January

January 28, 2022 | 1 Comment

Southwestern Public Health announced on Friday, January 28, that an Oxford man in his 90s had died with COVID-19, a case connected to an outbreak in a long-term care or retirement home. His was the 138th death related to COVID-19 in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford since the pandemic began in March of 2020, and…

School absenteeism controversy at TVDSB

January 27, 2022 | 0 Comments

On Tuesday night, Jan. 25, Thames Valley District School Board trustees, over the opposition of Education Director Mark Fisher, voted 6-5 to adopt the following motion: “That the director of education take reasonable steps to publicly report data to the extent it is available on COVID-19 cases in TVDSB schools; “That the TVDSB ensure families…

Elgin man latest COVID-19 fatality

January 27, 2022 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health announced on Thursday, Jan. 27, that an Elgin man in his 70s had become the 137h COVID-19 related fatality in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford since the pandemic began in March of 2020. The health unit also reported that 85 new cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed Thursday, up from 54 Wednesday.…

Walk-ins again welcome at COVID-19 clinics

January 26, 2022 | 0 Comments

Effective immediately, Southwestern Public Health’s three COVID-19 vaccination clinics are resuming “walk-in” hours, where no appointments are needed, to prioritize specific groups, including pregnant women, anyone eligible seeking a first dose, and seniors aged 70 and older seeking a booster. Walk-ins for these groups will be between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. during regular operating…

Update on outbreaks in county homes

January 25, 2022 | 0 Comments

Elgin County issued the following update on COVID-19 outbreaks at its three long-term care homes on Monday, Jan. 24: Terrace Lodge long-term care home has had a total of 19 confirmed cases involving residents, 11 of whom has since recovered. Two deaths have occurred. Terrace Lodge has four confirmed cases among its workers, three of…

Four more COVID-19 deaths reported Tuesday

January 25, 2022 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health announced on Tuesday, Jan. 25, that four persons had died during the previous 24 hours in COVID-19 related cases. They include an Elgin woman in her 80s and an Elgin man in his 90s. Their deaths were linked to outbreaks at long-term care or retirement homes. In addition, an Oxford man in…

Defrauded for $141,000 in Bitcoin scam

January 24, 2022 | 0 Comments

An Aylmer man, 60, was defrauded of $141,000 over seven months in a scam involving the online “crypto currency” Bitcoin, town Police Chief Zvonko Horvat reported on Monday, Jan. 24. Between January and July of 2021, the man set up an account through the purported “SPX Markets” online investment company. Over the course of seven…