News
“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 MoreAylmer second-highest cumulative cases in Southwestern region
Aylmer and area has so far experienced the second-highest number of total cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Southwestern Public Health region of Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford since the pandemic began early in 2020, with 454 to date. Only the much-larger Woodstock and area is higher with 540 to date. In third place…
Read MoreCOVID-19 cases at Davenport, South Dorchester public schools
Thames Valley District School Board announced on Wednesday, March 17, that COVID-19 cases had been confirmed by Southwestern Public Health affecting Davenport Public School in Aylmer and South Dorchester Public School in Malahide. ‘The board stated that both schools, which had one active case each, would remain open, and that all staff and parents in…
Read MoreSouthwestern cases continue steady climb
Southwestern Public Health was reporting 14 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford on Tuesday, March 16, up from nine on Monday. The health unit is tracking 72 ongoing cases across the region, up from 61 Monday. Aylmer and area remained at 18 cases, while St. Thomas rose to five on…
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