Health Minister Sylvia Jones says cases of RSV appear to be slowing but the province is just at the head end of the flu season. Several pediatric hospitals in Ontario - including Children's Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre - have been forced to cancel surgeries to accommodate an influx of patients suffering fr...

Southwestern Public Health Wednesday launched a new, enhanced COVID-19 dashboard that analyzes the risk associated with the raw data. The new dashboard highlights four indicators: confirmed cases, percent positivity, new hospitalizations and active outbreaks, and whether the trend is increasing or decreasing. The enhan...

Health Minister Sylvia Jones says wearing a mask in public places is a personal choice and people should not be passing judgment on those who do or don't wear one. Jones made the comment after most of her Progressive Conservative colleagues did not wear masks in the legislature Tuesday -- including Premier Doug Ford. T...

Southwestern Public Health is advising it's time to think differently about respiratory illnesses and what they can mean to the most vulnerable around us - particularly children 4 and under. Medical officer of health Dr. Ninh Tran advises a cold that presents as mild in an adult can cause serious illness in a young chi...

Two government sources say Ontario's top doctor will recommend the public begin masking on Monday in an effort to help overwhelmed children's hospitals. The sources, who are speaking on condition of anonymity, say there will be no mask mandate. Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore has said this fall and win...

The St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital advised Thursday that it is experiencing capacity issues. Combined with staffing concerns and occupancy rates, it means a shortage of beds and longer emergency wait times. Hospital president and CEO Karen Davies tells myFM the situation could worsen through the fall and winter. Wri...

You have to admire the patience and determination of Rose Gibson. She was successful last night in her sixth attempt to win a seat on city council. Her first campaign was in the 2000 municipal election. In 2018 she finished 10th in a 19-candidate field. myFM spoke with Gibson at city hall right after the results were p...

Ontario residents can start receiving their annual flu shots next month. The shots will be available through health care providers, Southwestern Public Health and in participating pharmacies beginning November 1st. And, starting Monday, those ages 12 to 17 can receive a bivalent COVID-19 booster dose if they have recei...

Fanshawe College's decision to abandon indoor masking and social distancing has created an unsafe work environment, according to the president of OPSEU Local 110. As such, the local filed a group grievance last week against the college and president Mark Feltham told myFM the next step in the process. Feltham advises n...

The province is expanding eligibility for COVID-19 booster shots to children aged five to 11 and dropping self-isolation requirements for people testing positive for the virus as part of pandemic preparations for the fall. Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore says parents and caregivers will be able to book...

Fanshawe College is gearing up to welcome students back to the classroom this September. As of September 7, 65 per cent of classes will be provided in person. All scheduled events for students and staff are going ahead as planned this fall, including student orientation and varsity athletics activities. Student service...

Western University says staff and students returning to campus next month will be required to wear masks in classrooms and have at least one booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The university has issued an updated policy that requires a booster dose -- usually equivalent to a third shot -- for students, employees and v...

The Ministry of Education confirmed on Monday that come September, Ontario students will not be required to wear masks in schools. According to the announcement, usage of masks will be voluntary and will be made available to students upon request. In addition, rapid tests will also remain available to school boards. Th...

Ontario residents who miss work because of a COVID-19 diagnosis will continue to have three paid days off after the province extended its temporary sick leave program. The current program, announced by Premier Doug Ford's government last spring, has been extended until the end of next March. It was set to expire at the...

Southwestern Public Health reported at least 120 new COVID-19 cases since July 13 with 102 resolved. There were three new deaths in the past week. The death total is 173 since the pandemic began. The per cent positivity rate in the region is 11.38 per cent. Per cent positivity below 5% suggests few undetected cases in ...

Canadian parents will soon be able to get their infants and preschoolers vaccinated against COVID-19. Health Canada has approved Moderna's two-dose vaccine for children ranging in age from six-months to five-years-old. The Ontario government says it expects supply of the vaccine to arrive in the province by late next w...

All COVID-19 vaccination clinics in the Southwestern Public Health region are now offering second boosters to those between the ages of 18 and 59. The recommended interval for the fourth dose is anywhere between three and five months after the previous booster dose. Vaccination is by walk-in only at the health unit, lo...

The Ontario New Democrats say Premier Doug Ford needs to prioritize health care hiring after emergency rooms in Perth and Clinton were forced to temporarily close on the weekend due to staff shortages. Karen Davies, St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital president and CEO told myFM they are dealing with a greater than 30 pe...

Southwestern Public Health reported at least 38 new COVID-19 cases since June 14 with 43 resolved. The death total is 169 since the pandemic began. The per cent positivity rate in the region has dropped to 3.78 per cent. Per cent positivity below 5% suggests few undetected cases in the community. There are 48 ongoing c...

While face coverings are no longer required in most public indoor spaces in Ontario, the health unit reminds there are specific situations where they are recommended - and at times required. Masks are still mandated in long-term care and retirement homes. They are also recommended in acute care and congregate care sett...