News

The Order is geared to any residents failing to comply with self-isolation instructions

Dr. Joyce Lock, Medical Officer of Health for Southwestern Public Health has issued a second Class Order under Section 22 of Ontario’s Health Protection and Promotion Act. This Order applies to all residents of Oxford County, Elgin County, and the City of St. Thomas.

The order comes into effect at 11:59 pm today, July 23, 2020.

The Order is a legal measure that authorizes the health unit to enforce individual...

Significant jump in cases reported in the region over the past two weeks

Following the laboratory confirmation of eight cases of COVID-19 in the Southwestern Public Health region over a two-week period, the Medical Officer of Health urges community members to behave as though everyone is a possible source of infection.

“As a community, we’re tired. We want to let our guard down, but we can’t. There are six active cases in our region. They range in age from teens to mid 50s. While the source of infection...

Amendments strengthen the restrictions on youth access to flavoured and high nicotine vapour products

St. Thomas, ON: Yesterday, the Province of Ontario amended the Smoke-free Ontario Act, 2017 to further address the prevalence of youth vaping. These amendments strengthen the restrictions on youth access to flavoured and high nicotine vapour products to protect youth under 19 years of age from the harms associated with vaping. The amendments respond to parental, public, and health stakeholder’s concerns...

Medical Officer of Health offers tips on keeping COVID-19 at bay while enjoying regional beaches

Southwestern Public Health’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Joyce Lock, is asking day trippers to enjoy their return to the region’s beaches – but to always keep safety in mind to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The Southwestern Public Health region, which includes Oxford County, Elgin County and the City of St. Thomas, moved into Ontario’s Phase 2 reopening on June 12. Restaurant patios, salons,...

Local health experts advise continued public health practices until treatments and vaccinations are widely available

As Ontario continues to loosen restrictions and re-open the economy, officials at Southwestern Public Health caution that COVID-19 will be an indefinite threat.

Based on global epidemiology models and known attributes of coronaviruses, it is probable the COVID-19 virus will continue to spread. The World Health Organization issued a warning on May 13 that novel-coronavirus will likely...