NEWS

Local news in and around Aylmer and Elgin County

New case in St. Thomas; further provincial restrictions

September 26, 2020 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health reported a new case of COVID-19 confirmed by testing in St. Thomas and area on Saturday, Sept. 26. The health unit continues to track one ongoing case in Central Elgin, and four in Woodstock. Meanwhile, the Ontario government further tightened pandemic restrictions in response to a growing number of cases across the…

First probable COVID-19 case in St. Thomas Community Christian School

September 25, 2020 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health announced Friday afternoon, Sept. 25, that it was looking into what it considered a “probable” case of COVID-19 at St. Thomas Community Christian School. The health unit, in a statement, said it had been notified by the school, and Principal Jason Schouten had contacted”members of the broader school community” about what was…

Hazardous material leak at IGPC Ethanol plant

September 24, 2020 | 0 Comments

IGPC Ethanol Inc. alerted the town of Aylmer to a hazardous material leak at 89 Progress Drive at about 7 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24. The gas leaking was the company’s main product – fuel grade ethanol. The product is highly flammable but not toxic, said Chief Operating Officer Kevin Norton. No one in the…

Only one case in Elgin, six in Woodstock

September 24, 2020 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health on Thursday, Sept. 24, was reporting just one ongoing case of COVID-19 confirmed by testing in Elgin and St. Thomas, that being in Central Elgin. The number of ongoing cases in Woodstock and area has declined in the last couple of days to six from eight.    

Don’t get tested unless symptomatic: health unit

September 23, 2020 | 0 Comments

Dr. Joyce Lock, medical officer of health for Southwestern Public Health, issued a statement Wednesday morning, Sept. 23, asking that local residents book appointments for COVID-19 testing only if they have a symptom of the disease. Those instructed by a physician or public health to see testing should also do so, Dr. Lock said. “The…

First COVID-19 case in TVDSB school

September 22, 2020 | 0 Comments

The first case of COVID-19 confirmed by testing in the Thames Valley District School Board was revealed to be at H.B. Beal Secondary School on Monday, Sept. 21 Neither TVDSB nor Middlesex-London Health Unit was willing to say if the case involved a student, teacher or other staff member. However, on Tuesday, Sept. 22, a…

Ford: Get your flu shots

September 22, 2020 | 0 Comments

Premier Doug Ford on Tuesday, Sept. 22, told Ontarians their first step in dealing with the expected second wave of COVID-19 infections should be to get flu vaccinations. Doing so would prevent illness and trips to the emergency room, and free healthcare workers to deal with COVID-19 cases, he said. Tuesday was the start of…

Social gathering limits slashed

September 19, 2020 | 0 Comments

The Ontario government on Saturday, Sept. 18, drastically reduced the number of participants who could attend “informal social gatherings” such as birthday parties and backyard barbecues to a maximum of 10 indoors and 25 outdoors, effective for the next four weeks. The former limits had been 50 for indoor gatherings and 100 for outdoors. Premier…

Rescue aircraft overhead, boat limps back to Port Bruce

September 18, 2020 | 0 Comments

An 18-foot fishing boat ran out of fuel for its main engine in Lake Erie off Port Bruce Thursday night, Sept. 17, as waters became rough, Elgin Ontario Provincial Police Constable Troy Carlson reported. Two adults, 30 and 23, were on the boat and called for help at 9:18 p.m. In conjunction with the Joint…

Ontario clamping down on illegal social event organizers

September 17, 2020 | 0 Comments

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, alarmed by increasing numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases across Ontario, said that as of Friday, Sept. 18, anyone organizing a social event that exceeded local limits on such gathering would be charged and potentially subject to a $10,000 fine. That’s on top of a $750 fine that could be levied against…

COVID-19 back on upswing, mostly in Woodstock

September 16, 2020 | 0 Comments

Southwestern Public Health was reporting a total of nine ongoing cases of COVID-19 confirmed by testing on Wednesday, Sept. 16, an increase of four from the previous day. One new case was reported in Central Elgin, and three more in Woodstock and area, which was now at a total of seven. One ongoing case continues…

Premier: cut out “social gatherings”

September 14, 2020 | 0 Comments

Ontario Premier Doug Ford pleaded with residents of the province to cut out “social gatherings” like parties and weddings as they saw a sharp, sudden increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on Monday, Sept. 14. “We all know a second wave of this virus is coming,” Premier Ford said in a daily news…