News

Police College outbreak drives Southwestern cases upward

Southwestern Public Health was reporting 17 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, Nov. 27, up from eight on Friday. The health unit is tracking 57 ongoing cases of the virus across Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford Saturday, up from 43 on Friday. The increases appear driven mainly by a new outbreak of 27 cases…

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Police college, with 27 COVID-19 cases, “pauses” classes for two weeks

Brent Ross, speaking on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General, reported late Friday afternoon, Feb. 26, that so far 27 positive cases of COVID-19 have been identified in an outbreak that started at the school on Monday, Feb. 22. Everyone with a positive test was now self-isolating, he said. All staff and…

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Elgin and St. Thomas moving to “Orange-Restrict” Monday

Southwestern Public Health announced late Friday afternoon, Feb. 26, that as of Monday, March 1, Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford would move to the “Orange-Restrict” zone from the current “Red-Control.” That will result in the relaxation of some COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Medical Officer of Health Dr. Joyce Lock, in a statement, said “Following a very…

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CCCA issues flood watch

Catfish Creek Conservation Authority issued a flood watch on Friday morning, Feb. 26, for low-lying areas of the watershed. Water levels had increased in the creek, and the authority believed that a high probability existed for flooding of low-lying areas. The current unseasonably moderate temperatures, expected rain this weekend and the possibility of ice jams…

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Five more cases in Aylmer and area

Southwestern Public Health reported eight new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, Feb. 26, down from 15 the previous day. The health unit was tracking 43 ongoing cases on Friday, up from 40 on Thursday. Aylmer and area increased to 16 ongoing cases Friday from 11 Thursday, most if not all of those at Ontario…

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Ontario Police College has 18 confirmed COVID-19 cases

Since Feb. 22, 18 positive casers of COVID-19 have been confirmed at Ontario Police College, Brent Ross, spokesman for the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General, reported. All were in self-isolation, and the college had suspended classes for Friday, March 26, he stated, so testing could be conducted of all students and staff. “Throughout the…

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Outbreak of 11 cases at Ontario Police College

Southwestern Public Health is reporting that 11 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 appeared in Aylmer and area on Thursday, Feb. 25, and that they involve students and/or staff at Ontario Police College. Testing is ongoing, the health unit stated, so that number was subject to possible change over the next two days. In total, Southwestern…

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Free training offered for 6,000 PSW students

Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Wednesday, Feb. 24, announced that 6,000 students enrolled in personal support worker programs at the province’s 24 colleges starting in April would pay nothing for their training. The government was investing a total of $115-million in that, and to provide $2,000 in tuition assistance for 2,200 students currently enrolled in…

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No new cases in Southwestern region Wednesday, Feb. 24

Southwestern Public Health is reporting no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Elgin, St. Thomas and Middlesex on Wednesday, Feb. 24, down from six new cases on Tuesday. Across the region, the health unit is tracking 28 ongoing cases, down from 35 the previous day. St. Thomas and area dropped to four cases Wednesday from…

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No confirmed cases in Aylmer for now

Southwestern Public Health was reporting no confirmed ongoing cases of COVID-19 in Aylmer and area on Tuesday, Feb. 23, down from one on Monday. Six new cases were confirmed by testing in Elgin, St. Thomas and Oxford on Tuesday, but the number of ongoing cases across the region dropped to 35 from 40. St. Thomas…

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