NEWS

Local news in and around Aylmer and Elgin County

Two charged at Church of God are Toronto police officers-updated

April 23, 2021 | 1 Comment

A North York man, 42, and a Scarborough woman, 41, charged in connection with an alleged breach of pandemic restrictions at Aylmer Church of God on Tuesday night, April 20, identified themselves as Toronto police officers at the time in a video released on Ontario MPP Randy Hillier’s social media post. The video shows an…

Parking lots, washrooms closed at Elgin beaches

April 22, 2021 | 0 Comments

Elgin County Warden Tom Marks, in a statement Thursday, April 22, announced that while park trails and playgrounds remain open in local municipalities, other outdoor recreational facilities, including golf courses, soccer fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, baseball diamonds and skateparks are shut down because of provincial COVID-19 emergency orders. “Residents must stay home except for…

Ford: mea culpa

April 22, 2021 | 1 Comment

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, in a news conference on Thursday morning, April 22, acknowledged his government had erred the previous week in giving police additional powers to randomly stop motorists and pedestrians to see if they’re obeying a COVID-19 “stay-at-home” order. The powers were announced late Friday afternoon, April 16, in response to dire predictions…

Southwestern records 75th COVID-19 death.

April 22, 2021 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health reported 26 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford on Thursday, April 22, down from 28 on Wednesday. More significantly, the number of ongoing cases being tracked in the region dropped to 168 from 198. However, Southwestern also announced the 75th death in its area linked to COVID-19…

Southwestern reports 74th COVID-19-related death

April 21, 2021 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health on Wednesday, April 21, reported the 74th death connected to COVID-19 in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford since the pandemic began, a St. Thomas man in his 70s. The health unit also reported 28 confirmed new cases of COVID-19 in the region, up from 12 the previous day. Southwestern is currently tracking…

Four charged at Church of God

April 21, 2021 | 0 Comments

Aylmer Police have charged four persons with violating COVID-19 emergency orders while at Aylmer Church of God on John Street North on Tuesday night, April 20. In a statement, Police Chief Zvonko Horvat said a complaint from the public about a large gathering at the church was received Tuesday at 8:18 p.m. Officers went to…

Over 42,000 vaccinated at least once so far in Southwestern region

April 20, 2021 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health, as of Monday, April 19, reported that 42,436 residents of Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford have so far received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The health unit’s target is 150,000, or three-quarters of all the adults in its region. The number vaccinated to date includes 9,587 in Elgin, 9,340 in…

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…