News
Twenty new cases Wednesday, May 12
After a dip to five new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford yesterday, the number surged back up to 20 on Wednesday, May 12, Southwestern Public Health reported. That brings the number of ongoing cases being tracked by the health unit to 136, up from 133 on Tuesday. St. Thomas and…
Read MoreOntario “pauses” first doses of AstraZeneca
Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams announced late Tuesday afternoon, May 11, that the province will “pause” using AstraZeneca for the first doses of COVID-19 vaccine. In a statement, the pause was attributed to “an abundance of caution due to an observed increase in the rare blood clotting condition known as vaccine-induced…
Read MoreTo date, 77,940 Southwestern residents vaccinated
In a weekly report issued Monday, May 10, Southwestern Public Health reported that, to date, 77,940 residents of Elgin, St. Thomas had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, an increase of over 10,000 from 66,436 on Monday, May 3. In St. Thomas, 42.3 percent of adult residents have been vaccinated, in Elgin County…
Read MoreOnly five new cases in Southwestern region Tuesday
Southwestern Public Health was reporting just five new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford on Tuesday, May 11. That compared to 58 over the weekend, or an average of just over 19 a day. The number of ongoing cases being tracked by the health unit stood at 133 on Tuesday, down…
Read MoreEligibility against widened for vaccinations
In response to a steadier stream of COVID-19 vaccine being delivered to Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford, Southwestern Public Health announced late Monday, May 10, that eligibility for immunizations would be expanded on Tuesday, May 11, and even further on Thursday, May 13. Anyone who could not work from home and those 16 and older…
Read MoreSt. Thomas man’s death linked to COVID-19
Southwestern Public Health announced Monday, May 10, that a St. Thomas man in his 70s had died as the result of COVID-19. That brings the total number of deaths in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford since the pandemic began to 77. The health unit also reported 58 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the weekend,…
Read MoreMore charges against Church of God
Aylmer Police reported Monday, May 10, that additional charges would be laid for breaching Ontario’s COVID-19 emergency orders after another in-person service was held at Aylmer Church of God Restoration on John Street North on Sunday, May 9. Chief Zvonko Horvat said a large number of participants attended the service inside the church. Charges were…
Read MoreCerna tears into Herbert Hildebrandt, Church of God
Councillor Rick Cerna, at a Malahide council meeting Thursday, May 6, ripped into Herbert Hildebrandt and his father, controversial Aylmer Church of God Pastor Henry Hildebrandt, and their actions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Herbert Hildebrandt had sent an email to Mayor David Mennill and township councillors about comments the mayor made in a recent interview…
Read MoreTillsonburg hospital COVID-19 outbreak cases rising
Southwestern Public Health was reporting 19 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford on Friday, May 7, up from 17 the previous day. The total number of ongoing cases being tracked by the health unit rose to 122 from 117. Meanwhile, an outbreak at Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital first reported Thursday…
Read MoreLockdown seen as likely to be extended
Dr. Joyce Lock, medical officer of health for Southwestern Public Health, told health board members at a meeting Thursday, May 6, she expected the current provincial COVID-19 shutdown would continue past the current end date of May 20. The third wave of the pandemic “has been a really tough haul, but we’re heading in the…
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