News
70 and over eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations
Southwestern Public Health announced Monday morning, March 29, that anyone 70 and older now qualified to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Previously, only those 75 and older could get them, with some exceptions. The health unit reported that Ontario government data showing that as of Saturday, March 27, more than 75 percent of residents 80 and…
Read MoreMPP Yurek: take whatever vaccine is offered
Sherri Spanjers of Tillsonburg, left, a worker in a dental clinic, received her first dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP and Ontario Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Jeff Yurek during a Southwestern Public Health mass vaccination clinic at Memorial Arena in St. Thomas on Saturday morning, March 27. This was the…
Read MoreOxford man latest COVID-linked death
Southwestern Public Health reported on Friday, March 26, the death of an Oxford man in his 60s which was linked to COVID-19. That brings to 68 the total number of such deaths in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford. The health unit also reported 10 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, up from eight on…
Read More“Faith leaders” eligible for vaccinations
Southwestern Public Health announced Thursday, March 25, that “faith leaders” from local churches and places of worship were now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. That would apply if as part of their work they were in close contact with individuals and families through: end of life care; care of the deceased, funerals, bathing or other…
Read More“The power of vaccination”
The fact that no long-term care or retirement homes are currently experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak is “a good indication of the power of vaccination,” Dr. Joyce Lock, medical officer of health for Southwestern Public Health, said during a weekly news briefing on Wednesday, March 24. She started by reporting the health unit had confirmed seven…
Read MoreSome ups, some downs in local COVID-19 cases
Southwestern Public Health was reporting 17 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, March 23, bringing the total number of ongoing cases in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford to 78, up from 75 on Monday. St. Thomas and area rose to 13 ongoing cases Tuesday from nine on Monday, while Central Elgin decreased to nine…
Read MoreSouthwestern reports 28 new cases over weekend
Southwestern Public Health reported on Monday, March 22, that 28 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Elgin, St. Thomas and Middlesex over the weekend. The total number of ongoing infections being tracked by the health unit stands at 75, up from 66 on Friday. (Southwestern, which used to provide daily updates, has stopped doing…
Read MoreVaccinations for 75 and older opens Monday
Southwestern Public Health announced Friday afternoon, March 19, that starting Monday, March 22, appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations would be opened to anyone turning 75 this year and older. Previously, those 80 and older could receive vaccinations. The health unit cited a morning announcement by Ontario Premier Doug Ford that 50 percent of those 80 and…
Read MoreThirteen new cases in Southwestern region
Southwestern Public Health was reporting 13 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, March 19, up from five the previous day. However, the number of ongoing cases being tracked by the health unit in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford dropped to 66 from 72. Aylmer and area decreased to 10 ongoing cases Friday from 14…
Read MoreSo far, 26 variant cases in Southwestern region
Southwestern Public Health has so far identified 26 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford involving a variant of the virus. Dr. Joyce Lock told a news briefing Wednesday, March 17, that all positive samples for COVID-19 were now receiving an additional laboratory test to identify the presence of one of two…
Read More