Image

Seven now ill in Nova outbreak as Lambton cases continue to rise

December 18, 2020

New statistics by Lambton Public Health show seven people at Nova Chemical’s Corunna Cracker Unit site have COVID-19.

The company is one of three active workplace outbreaks in Lambton as the numbers of people being diagnosed with the virus continue to grow.

Lambton Public Health says three more people have tested positive in the county yesterday; 39 people are sick with the virus right now.

Public health says the outbreak at Shell’s Sarnia Manufacturing Centre is over but seven people are now ill at Nova. There are two other outbreaks, including one at Insigna Hotel Restaurant in Sarnia. Two kitchen staff there tested positive. In a Facebook post, the company says the restaurant will be able to reopen Dec. 27.

Officials say the construction work is on hold until the New Year while people onsite in other areas continue to work under pandemic restrictions including staff working from home, physical distancing in the work place and eliminating non-essential in person meetings.

Another 2,290 people in the province tested positive for COVID-19 Thursday including 207 new cases in Windsor-Essex. The medical officer of health has said there are so many cases to follow up the may start asking people to tell people they have been in contact with that they have COVID-19 instead of having contact tracers from the health unit call.

The pandemic continues to take its toll in long term care; 139 homes have outbreaks and 757 residents and 853 staff have COVID-19. Twenty-five more residents have died. Since September, 623 long term residents have died.

The premier has indicated there may be more restrictions coming to help stem the rising numbers. He tweeted this morning “Minister Elliott, Dr. Williams and Ontario’s hospital leaders to discuss next steps to break the concerning trends in cases and hospitals in our province. Everything is on the table when it comes to protecting the health of Ontarians.”

Share This

Image
Front Page

Former Courtright haunt of Al Capone being demolished

July 24, 2026

The Independent The home of the first business in Courtright – said to be the former haunt of gangster Al Capone – is being torn down. Demolition of what once was the Cathcart General Store started July 21. Local historian Kip Cuthbert says the building dates back to around the 1850’s as a general store. “William Cathcart established his general

Read More

Image
Front Page

Four charged with drug trafficking by Anishinabek Police after stop in Lambton Shores

July 24, 2026

The Independent Four people have been arrested after a drug trafficking investigation that started in May and ended with a traffic stop in Lambton Shores July 21. Anishinabek Police Service officers stopped a vehicle in Lambton Shores July 21. Police searched the vehicle and found seven grams of fentanyl and 51 hydromorphone tables. A 57-year-old man and 43 year-old woman,

Read More

Image
Front Page

Bluewater Bridge border guards seized 1.1 tonnes of drugs in $139 million bust

July 24, 2026

Heather Wright/The Independent About 1.1 tonnes of the drugs seized in a $139 million drug investigation were seized at the Bluewater Bridge. And a Corunna man is one of 21 people charged in the massive drug ring which netted a total of 1.7 tonnes of cocaine, methamphetamine, opium and oxycodone. The investigation began in Windsor in January 2025. “At that

Read More

Image
Front Page

Ashley Norton Caught the Ace

July 24, 2026

Imperial Oil employee takes home $4.5 million in Sarnia Legion Cathy Dobson & Heather Wright/The Independent After 45 weeks, hundreds of thousands of tickets sold, food banks restocked and a whole lot of fun, the Chase for the Ace is over. Thursday, Ashley Norton’s ticket was drawn at the Sarnia Legion. The 44-year-old Imperial Oil maintenance manager chose envelope number

Read More