NEWS

Local news in and around Aylmer and Elgin County

St. Thomas man’s death linked to COVID-19

April 20, 2021 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health on Tuesday, April 20, announced the death of a St. Thomas man in his 70s, connected to COVID-19. His is the 73rd such death since the pandemic started in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford. The health unit reported 12 new confirmed cases on Tuesday. The total number of ongoing cases in the…

Over 40s eligible for pharmacy vaccinations

April 19, 2021 | 0 Comments

Starting Tuesday, April 20, anyone 40 and over can receive a COVID-19 immunization using the AstraZeneca vaccine from participating pharmacies and physicians’ offices across Ontario. That was announced by Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, on Monday morning, April 19. He stated, “As we continue to fight COVID-19, we are doing everything…

Fifty-seven new cases over weekend

April 19, 2021 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health on Monday, April 19, reported 57 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford from the weekend. The current total of ongoing cases in this region stands at 190, down from 198 on Friday. St. Thomas and area decreased to 70 ongoing cases Monday from 74 Friday, Central Elgin…

No random police stops

April 18, 2021 | 0 Comments

The Ontario government has reportedly backed off on new powers for police officers allowing them to randomly stop anyone outside their homes to demand to know where they reside and why they are not there, given the province’s current COVID-19 “stay-at-home” order. The new powers were announced Friday, as Ontario continues to see a dramatic…

Police given more pandemic powers; province shuts borders

April 16, 2021 | 0 Comments

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…

Almost a quarter of ongoing COVID-19 cases involve those under 20

April 16, 2021 | 0 Comments

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…

Southwestern reports 72nd death linked to COVID-19

April 15, 2021 | 0 Comments

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…

Tillsonburg to get vaccination clinic

April 14, 2021 | 0 Comments

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…

Special needs educators can get vaccine

April 14, 2021 | 0 Comments

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…

St. Thomas cases on the rise

April 14, 2021 | 0 Comments

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…

Another death linked to COVID-19

April 13, 2021 | 0 Comments

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…

No return to school after spring break

April 12, 2021 | 0 Comments

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…