Image

Two hospital staff COVID-19 positive

January 23, 2021

Outbreak declared Friday in Bluewater Health’s medicine unit

Lambton Public Health say two staff at Bluewater Health and one patient have tested positive for COVID-19.

The health unit and hospital declared an outbreak on the medicine unit Friday but at the time the staff members test results had not been confirmed. Public Health declares an outbreak in a hospital when there are two or more lab confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The only change to hospital operations because of the declared outbreak is patients who were to be admitted to the medicine unit will now go to the acute medicine unit.

Lambton Public Health reported 15 new cases of COVID-19 Saturday with 175 people ill – that’s down 15. There were also another 30 recoveries. Three outbreaks have been declared over although Lambton Public Health does not update that information on the weekend so it is unclear which outbreaks are over.

In Ontario, another day of declining case rates. The province reported 2359 new COVID-19 cases with 58 deaths Saturday. Twenty four of those people live in long term care home. One long term care worker – a teen from London – has also died.

Share This

Image
Front Page

Fair banner may not fly

June 14, 2025

The Independent The Moore Agricultural Society has some big plans for the 175th anniversary of the Brigden Fair. But not all of their plans may work out. The ag society has asked for and received several approvals from St. Clair Township council for special events at the landmark fair including allowing a low-level Canadian Armed Forces Flyby and helicopter landings

Read More

Image
Front Page

Remembering Newell Hastings

June 14, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Sunday, Newell Hasting’s service to King and Country over a century ago was remembered in a peaceful church cemetery near Watford. Hasting was born in Petrolia and his family moved to Watford around the turn of the century. He signed up to serve in the miltia with Watford’s 149th Battalion before being called up for service. He

Read More

Image
Front Page

Sidewalk projects around First Ave this summer

June 13, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Sidewalks along First Street in Petrolia will be getting an upgrade once school is out for the summer. It’s part of the latest large project to improve the town’s sidewalk system. In 2023, BM Ross and Associates completed a study on Petrolia’s sidewalk system and found it lacking. It suggested $1.5 million in sidewalk construction was needed

Read More

Image
Front Page

Aamjiwnaang evacuates parts of community as INEOS decommissioning increases benzene levels

June 13, 2025

Leaders of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation are evacuating residents between Churchill Road and Tashmoo Ave after high levels of benzene have been detected in the area. Just before noon Friday, INEOS Styrolutions issued a notice saying hourly benzene emissions have been detected about 0.021 parts per million. The company is decommissioning the plant which is within eyesight of Aamjiwnaang’s band

Read More