An update on the COVID-19 situation at STEGH

The positive COVID-19 cases over the weekend in the Southwestern Public Health region continue to rise.

The positive COVID-19 cases over the weekend in the Southwestern Public Health region continue to rise.

Sixty-Six new infections were announced over the past two days and St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital is still over capacity in its Intensive Care Unit.

According to the Southwestern Public Health Unit (SWPH), of the 66 positive cases over the weekend, the majority are coming from household contacts and untraced community spread.

That makes it difficult for the health unit to determine how to deal with the rising count.

The majority of positive cases are coming from the East end of Elgin County.

"We can't always cut the pie by separating vaccinated from unvaccinated and we can always cut the pie separating one municipality from another because this virus just goes where people go and as long as we're traveling to and fro, the virus will travel to a fro,” said Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Joyce Locke.

It’s tough to determine how to proceed with any potential limitations. Many places require a vaccine passport, meaning patrons are double-vaccinated. However they could still end up with capacity limitations due to unvaccinated children.