Southwestern Public Health reported on Wednesday, Jan. 5, that two more residents of its area had died as a result of COVID-19, a St. Thomas woman in her 50s and an Oxford man in his 80s. That brings the total number of such deaths in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford since the pandemic began to…
Southwestern Public Health on Tuesday, Jan. 4, announced two pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics coming to Bayham over the next two Thursdays. The clinics will offer Pfizer pediatric vaccine for children 5 through 11, adult Pfizer doses for those 12 through 29 years old and Morderna vaccine for those 30 and older. The first will be…
Southwestern Public Health was reporting 169 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford on Tuesday, Jan. 4. Over the Christmas holiday, new cases had averaged just under 134 daily. The health unit is now tracking 1,379 ongoing confirmed cases in its region, up from 1,287 Monday. The health unit on Tuesday…
Elgin County Ontario Provincial Police announced late Monday afternoon, Jan. 3, that the victim of a fatal shooting in Sparta on Saturday night, Jan. 1, was Christopher Robert Roy, 35, of London. Police, firefighters and paramedics responded to a report of a shooting on North Street in Sparta Jan. 1 at about 6:50 p.m. Mr.…
Southwestern Public Health was reporting Monday, Jan. 3, that 1,337 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford since Christmas Eve, but the number requiring hospitalization seems to be remaining stable. On Monday, 12 local residents were hospitalized, seven for them in intensive care units, compared to 13 hospitalizations, five…
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliott, in a news conference on Monday morning, Jan. 3, announced that, given just how contagious the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was, schools would be shut down for at least two weeks in favour of remote learning, non-urgent procedures at all hospitals would be postponed, indoor sports…
Devon Vandendriessche, 36, of Central Elgin has been charged with second-degree murder following a shooting on North Street in Sparta on Saturday, Jan. 1. He’s being held in custody until an appearance at the Elgin County courthouse in St. Thomas on Friday, Jan. 7. Constable Norm Kelso of Elgin Ontario Provincial Police, in a statement,…
Elgin County in a statement issued Friday, Dec. 31, reported that three residents and one staff member at Elgin Manor long-term care home in Southwold had tested positive for COVID-19. On Sunday, Jan. 2, the county reported that one resident and one staff member at Terrace Lodge long-term care home in Malahide and two staff…
St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital, in a statement issued on Thursday, Dec. 30, announced it was tightening “essential visitor” rules on a temporary basis. The action was being taken given a surge in COVID-19 cases across Ontario, and reflected similar measures being taken by other hospitals, STEGH said. The following can still visit patient: up…
Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore announced on Thursday, Dec. 30, that the expected return of children to schools on Monday, Jan. 3, was being delayed until Wednesday, Jan. 5, as a result of the rapid spread in COVID-19 cases involving the Omicron variant across the province. He also stated that testing…
The Ontario government on Tuesday, Dec. 28, announced tighter restrictions on visits to long-term care homes in response to the contagion risk posed by the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The new rules, taking effect Thursday, Dec. 20, will “pause” general visits to long-term care homes, though “designated caregivers” can continue to enter homes. The changes…
Aylmer Police Deputy Chief Nick Novacich reported the following on Monday, Dec. 27: Sexual assault An Aylmer man, 48, has been charged with sexual assault causing bodily harm. An Aylmer woman, 50, reported to police Wednesday, Dec. 22, that she had been assaulted by her husband during the week of Dec. 11. Investigation determined the…