News

SWPH Urges Community Vigilance in Wake of Maple Manor Outbreak

Public health, SW LHIN, and local hospitals working with Maple Manor to contain the spread

Southwestern Public Health today reports 90 total cases related to the COVID-19 outbreak at Maple Manor Nursing Home in Tillsonburg. This includes 35 staff and 55 residents. Four individuals have died.

The health unit declared an outbreak at the home on December 12, and conducted surveillance testing shortly after. Southwestern Public Health, South West Local Health Integration Network (SW LHIN), Tillsonburg...

SWPH Reports Largest Single Day Case Increase

Local modelling projects 100 daily cases or more in early January

Today Southwestern Public Health added 71 cases to its COVID-19 dashboard. This is the highest single-day increase in the region to-date, exceeding the previous record of 47 cases on December 23.

New modelling used by Southwestern Public Health also projects 100 daily cases or more in early January. This represents a critical point in the pandemic.

“Once we start to see daily increases approaching 100 per day, it becomes very difficult...

Health Unit Urges Residents to Be Proactive Amidst Spike in Local Cases

Monday the Province of Ontario announced a wide reaching shutdown that will begin on December 26 at 12:01 am and last for at least 28 days in the southern part of Ontario. Today Southwestern Public Health reported a record single day high of more than 45 cases.

“While the provincial shutdown officially starts on December 26, I urge everyone to limit their contact with others effective immediately. We have cases in every community and in people of every age. Transmission happens at social events,...

Southwestern Public Health Region is Shutting Down

Provincial shutdown limits interactions to those within your own household.

Due to surging cases Ontario is shutting down the province to spare lives and a pressured health care system.

On December 26 at 12:01am, Elgin County, Oxford County and the City of St. Thomas will face closures and further restrictions on businesses and services. Unlike during the previous lockdown These restrictions are expected to last for at least 28 days.  

“We had hoped not see a shutdown,” says Dr. Joyce Lock,...

COVID-19 Vaccine Update # 1

On December 8, Health Canada approved the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in Canada. This is the first COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in the country. The vaccine works with the individual’s immune system to help keep them from getting COVID-19, to lower how much of the virus can spread in the population, and to help build herd immunity.

Ontario received approximately 90,000 doses of the vaccine in its first shipment from the federal government. The doses were shipped to 17 hospital sites...

SWPH Advises Households to Self-Isolate After COVID-19 Testing

Southwestern Public Health’s Medical Officer of Health has new advice for household members of symptomatic people awaiting COVID-19 test results: stay home.

“COVID-19 spreads when people have close contact with each other. Our case history has many examples of multi-member households infected with the virus. For this reason, we’re asking everyone in the household to stay home until COVID is ruled out for the symptomatic individual,” says Dr. Joyce Lock, Medical Officer of Health at Southwestern Public...