NEWS

Local news in and around Aylmer and Elgin County

Down to 91 cases in Southwestern region

February 15, 2021 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health was reporting three new confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford on Monday, Feb. 15, down from nine on Saturday. The health unit is currently tracking 91 ongoing cases across the region, down from 93 Saturday. St. Thomas and area remained steady at eight cases, Dutton Dunwich at three…

New COVID-19 case in Aylmer

February 14, 2021 | 0 Comments

Aylmer enjoyed two days without any confirmed cases of COVID-19, but then a new one appeared on Sunday, Feb. 14. That case was among nine new confirmed cases Sunday, Southwestern Public Health reported, up from six on Saturday. The health unit is tracking 93 ongoing cases across Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford, up from 91…

Creative church solutions during lockdown

February 13, 2021 | 0 Comments

Churches in the Aylmer area are numerous and diverse in their beliefs and rites, though weekly communal worship at a church building was a common practice prior to the pandemic. Since March, most have adapted by in order to continue their ministry while abiding by government COVID-19 health and safety regulations. Current provincial rules state…

Ongoing cases down to double digits

February 13, 2021 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health was tracking 91 ongoing cases of COVID-19 in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford on Saturday, Feb. 13, down from 110 the previous day. Six new cases were confirmed on Saturday, up from two the previous day. St. Thomas and area increased to 10 cases on Saturday from nine on Friday and Dutton…

Elgin, St. Thomas, Oxford will move to “red” COVID-19 restrictions Tuesday, Feb. 16

February 12, 2021 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health has announced that Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford will be in the “red-control” zone of COVID-19 restrictions when a provincial lockdown comes to an end on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Events and social gatherings will be restricted to a maximum of five persons indoors or 25 outside. Religious, wedding and funeral services can…

No confirmed cases in Aylmer

February 12, 2021 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health on Friday, Feb. 12, was reporting no new or confirmed ongoing cases of COVID-19 in Aylmer and area, down from one on Thursday. Just two new cases were confirmed across Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford on Friday, down from 18 the previous day. The health unit is currently tracking 110 ongoing cases…

March break postponed until April

February 11, 2021 | 0 Comments

The one-week “March break” for students in Ontario elementary and secondary schools won’t be in March this year. Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced on Thursday, Feb. 11, that March break was being postponed until the week of April 12. “At this time it is critical that we continue to prioritize the health of staff,…

St. Thomas and Elgin down in cases, Oxford up

February 11, 2021 | 0 Comments

The number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases being reported by Southwestern Public Health on Thursday, Feb. 11, rose to 18, up from seven on Wednesday. The health unit is now tracking 120 ongoing cases in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford, up from 116 Wednesday. St. Thomas and area dropped to 12 cases Thursday, down from…

Central Elgin abandons Port Stanley heritage conservation district

February 10, 2021 | 0 Comments

Central Elgin councillors, in a surprise vote at the end of a three-and-a-half hour public hearing Wednesday night, Feb. 10, voted 4-3 to abandon further consideration of a heritage conservation district in Port Stanley. Deputy Mayor Tom Marks proposed the same motion he had at a regular council session on Monday night, but that was…

Vaccinations now urged even for those who have survived COVID-19

February 10, 2021 | 1 Comment

Southwestern Public Health is now recommending that even those who’ve had COVID-19, who have a “natural level of immunity,” still get vaccinated against the virus. Dr. Joyce Lock, medical officer of health, in a weekly news conference on Wednesday, Feb. 10, said new research showed that the vaccine could boost the immunity level of those…

COVID continues gradual downward slide

February 10, 2021 | 3 Comments

Southwestern Public Health reported on Wednesday, Feb. 10, that seven new cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in the Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford region, up from two on Tuesday. The number of ongoing cases being tracked by the health unit continued a gradual downward slide, decreasing to 116 Wednesday from 117 Tuesday. St. Thomas…

Maple Manor outbreak over, two deaths elsewhere in Oxford

February 9, 2021 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health was reporting almost entirely good news on the COVID-19 front on Tuesday, Feb. 9, with the sad exception of two more deaths linked to the virus, both in Oxford. One was a man in his 80s and the other a woman in her 70s. She was a resident at Caressant Care Retirement…