Today’s data release from Southwestern Public Health, which covers Oxford and Elgin counties and the city of St. Thomas, is showing no change in the number of active cases of Covid-19 in the area.

The total remains at 3 cases with 2 in Elgin County (all in St. Thomas) and 1 in Oxford County (in Tillsonburg).

With the news yesterday of many areas, including Oxford and Elgin, preparing for the next stage of reopening the province, it’s a good reminder to revisit the May 26 news release from Southwestern Public Health. They cautioned that Covid-19 “will be an indefinite threat” as Ontario continues to loosen restrictions and re-open the economy. Citing a World Health Organization warning on May 13, it was noted the coronavirus “will likely become imbedded in populations just as other infectious diseases and viruses have.”

It should be noted initial provincial modelling at the start of the pandemic projected the Southwestern Public Health region could see up to 2,000 daily cases at the peak of the outbreak. As of May 26, there were 73 total cases and 4 deaths. As of today, there have been a total of 75 cases and no further deaths. Physical distancing and other public health interventions are considered contributing factors to the reduced number of cases.

Websites to check regularly include…

Southwestern Public Health: https://www.swpublichealth.ca/content/community-update-novel-coronavirus-covid-19

Oxford County: http://www.oxfordcounty.ca/covid-19

Town of Tillsonburg: https://www.tillsonburg.ca/en/town-hall/novel-conoravirus-covid-19-information.aspx

Stay safe, stay apart, stay home (as often as possible), stay informed…and keep washing your hands, often!