News Headlines

Dr. Joyce Lock, medical officer of health for Southwestern Public Health, advised local residents on Wednesday morning, Dec. 23, they should immediately take steps to protect themselves from the risk of catching COVID-19. The health unit announced that morning, before overall new case numbers were issued for the day, that the number of new cases…

Thames Valley District School Board on Tuesday night, Dec. 22, announced that two more confirmed COVID-19 cases had been identified among pupils and staff at Davenport Public School in Aylmer. That brings the total number of active cases there to four, the highest of any TVDSB public elementary school. The board noted that parents and…

Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Monday, Dec. 21, announced that starting on Saturday, Dec. 26, most of the province would enter a 28-day “lockdown” period to try to curb the growing spread of COVID-19. Northern Ontario will do the same, but only for 14 days to start. He said the lockdown was necessary because of…

Southwestern Public Health was reporting 27 confirmed cases of COVID-19 being tracked in Aylmer and area, up from 22 the previous day, on Friday, Dec. 18. Bayham also increased to 16 cases from 15, while St. Thomas and area dropped to 27 from 32. Central Elgin rose to three cases from two, West Elgin dropped…

Southwestern Public Health was reporting the 11th death in its region linked to COVID-19 on Thursday, Dec. 17, as the number of new confirmed cases across Elgin, St. Thomas and Woodstock increased by 33. The health unit said the fatality involved an Elgin County man in his 70s. The health unit is tracking 149 ongoing…

On Tuesday, December 15, St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital announced that it would move itself into the “Red-Control” colour code and was cancelling general visits to patients, given the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the community. Those considered “essential caregivers” would still be allowed into the hospital, STEGH noted.

Southwestern Public Health was reporting 32 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford on Monday, Dec. 14. Aylmer and area saw a sizeable increase to 26 cases from 19, while St. Thomas and area jumped to 32 from 23 and West Elgin saw a slight increase to two from one. Bayham…

Southwestern Public Health was reporting the ninth death linked to COVID-19 in its area on Saturday, Dec. 12. The health unit said the man was from St. Thomas and in his 80s. Thames Valley District School Board on Friday, Dec. 11, announced a fifth confirmed ongoing case at East Elgin Secondary School, and the first…

Thames Valley District School Board announced on Thursday, Dec. 10, two additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 had been identified at East Elgin Secondary School. That brings the current ongoing total there to four. Two prior cases have since recovered. TVDSB immediately notified all staff and parents of students about the new cases, the board stated.…

The number of confirmed ongoing cases of COVID-19 being reported by Southwestern Public Health reached triple digits with 102 on Monday, Dec. 7, and the health unit issued a letter that day urging all residents to fight the disease together. Aylmer and area saw an increase to 19 cases on Monday from 17 on Sunday,…