News

Southwestern Public Health working with local growers to safely bring back seasonal workers

Warm weather has arrived and with it comes important seasonal work by area growers

As a largely rural public health unit, Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) has long worked with area farmers on matters related to the health and safety of the seasonal workers that come to Elgin and Oxford Counties to assist with the growing season. That work takes prominence with spring’s arrival. The region requires hundreds of extra workers to plant, maintain and eventually harvest local crops – all within the context...

Local Primary Care, Public Health and Hospitals Adopt COVID-19 Navigation Tool

Local primary care, public health and hospitals have teamed up to launch the COVID19 Population Health Navigator to help physicians and nurse practitioners navigate patients in Elgin County through the important points of care in the right order and in the fastest time: the Ministry’s self-assessment tool, TeleHealth, doctors’ offices, assessment centres and local hospitals.

Read full media release for Elgin.

Read full media release for Oxford.

Joint Statement by Oxford Family Physicians and Primary Care Nurse Practitioners

62 Oxford County Physicians and Nurse Practitioners have signed a letter appealing to every single resident of Oxford County to follow the guidance of public health and stay home to protect themselves from the novel coronavirus circulating in our communities.

Read the full letter.

65 Current & Retired Elgin and St. Thomas Primary Care Providers Urge Community

Sixty-five Current & Retired Elgin and St. Thomas Primary Care Providers Urge Community to Heed Public Health Advice Group releases letter to the community about the importance of working together to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic

Southwestern Public Health has released a letter signed by sixty-five current and retired physicians and nurse practitioners working in Elgin County and St. Thomas. The two page letter encourages every community member to play their role in reducing the...

Southwestern Public Health Confirms Second Case of COVID-19

This is the first case of novel coronavirus confirmed in Oxford County.

Dr. Joyce Lock, Medical Officer of Health for Southwestern Public Health has confirmed the second positive case of COVID-19 in the region. A male in his 30s tested positive for COVID-19 after close contact with someone outside the region who has the virus. He is a resident of Oxford County.

This individual was assessed, tested and released by Woodstock Hospital where all appropriate infection control precautions were followed....

Southwestern Public Health Well Supported by Partners in the Fight Against Novel Coronavirus

All sectors working together to protect the health of the community.

Southwestern Public Health is working with all sectors – public institutions, local government, private employers and non-profits to ensure a thoughtful, proactive and coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are actively participating at tables with municipalities, first responders, business leaders, long term care homes, health care professionals, hospitals, and so many others. We’re also in regular contact with local...