News

Southwestern reports 96th COVID-19 death

Southwestern Public Health announced on Monday, Nov. 22, that a 96th resident of the Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford region had died as a result of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, an Eglin County man in his 80s. The health unit also reported 71 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 from the weekend, or an average…

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One COVID-19 case at Terrace Lodge

Elgin County announced Sunday, Nov. 21, that a single confirmed case of COVID-19 had been found in a staff member at its Terrace Lodge long-term care home in Malahide, just east of Aylmer that morning. This placed the home into a “suspected outbreak” under provincial guidelines, the county stated. “County staff are working closely with…

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Olivia Vaseleniuck, 22, died in Thursday crash

Elgin Ontario Provincial Police have identified the driver who died in a two-vehicle crash on Ron McNeil Line near Highbury Avenue on Thursday, Nov. 18, as Olivia Vaseleniuck. Constable Norm Kelso said the crash took place at about 8:45 a.m. in Central Elgin. An eastbound vehicle and a westbound one collided, and both drivers were…

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Outbreak at Aylmer Retirement Residence

Southwestern Public Health on Friday, Nov. 19, was reporting an outbreak of COVID-19 at Aylmer Retirement Residence on Talbot Street East. Seven residents and one staff member had confirmed cases of the virus, the health unit stated. SWPH also recorded 38 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford Friday morning, more…

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Testing clinic announced for Port Burwell

Southwestern Public Health announced Friday morning, Nov. 19, that Ontario Health would host a COVID-19 testing clinic at Port Burwell Public School on Saturday, Nov. 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Testing would be open to staff, pupils, family and friends, and anyone who might have been exposed to a recent case of virus,…

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Vienna holiday lights ceremony cancelled

Bayham Historical Society announced Friday morning, Nov. 19, that a traditional ceremony to turn on holiday lighting in Vienna’s Memorial Park Saturday night, Nov. 20, had been cancelled. Jeff Robinson, on behalf of the society, said the decision had been made reluctantly, but given the recent spike in COVID-19 cases and the temporary closure of…

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Port Burwell Public School, with eight COVID-19 cases, temporarily closed

Thames Valley District School Board announced Thursday, Nov. 18, that Port Burwell Public School would temporarily close to in-person learning. The board had earlier on Thursday announced two more cases of confirmed COVID-19 at the school, bringing the ongoing total to eight. “Board administration has determined that school operations and instruction pose a challenge with…

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One dead in Ron McNeil Line crash

Elgin Ontario Provincial Police reported Thursday, Nov. 18, that one person had died in a two-vehicle crash on Ron McNeil Line east of Highbury Avenue that day at about 8:45 a.m. Constable Norm Kelso said a second motorist had been taken to hospital as well. OPP, Central Elgin firefighters and Elgin paramedics responded to the…

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New and ongoing cases dip downward

Southwestern Public Health was reporting 16 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford on Thursday, Nov. 18, down from 26 the previous day. The number of ongoing cases in the Southwestern also dropped, to 144 from 167. However, 14 SWPH residents are hospitalized with COVID-19, seven of them in intensive care…

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COVID-19 positivity rate still climbing

Southwestern Public Health on Wednesday, Nov. 17, revealed that the percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back as positive had climbed again. It rose to 5.8 percent as of Nov. 7, up from 5.1 percent on Oct. 31. The positivity rate has been cited by the health unit as one factor in a decision announced Tuesday…

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