19 MUSKOKA COVID CASES INCLUDE 8TH DEATH; AND 50% SPIKE IN REGIONAL NUMBERS LAST WEEK

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — With 19 Muskoka COVID cases on the weekend, Omicron’s regional effect last week was a 50 per cent increase in cases over the previous week.

The 846 cases reported last week by local public health tops 564 the week before.

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) is also reporting Muskoka’s 8th death — a man 65-79, who died last Thursday, Dec. 14 in an outbreak.

The Muskoka cases were:

  1. Huntsville woman, 65-79, under investigation, reported Dec. 19, first episode Dec. 15
  2. Bracebridge woman, 18-34, under investigation, reported Dec. 19, first episode Dec. 12
  3. Bracebridge woman, 18-34, under investigation, reported Dec. 19, first episode Dec. 16
  4. Huntsville woman, 18-34, under investigation, reported Dec. 18, first episode Dec. 17
  5. Huntsville woman, 18-34, under investigation, reported Dec. 18, first episode Dec. 17
  6. Huntsville man, 18-34, under investigation, reported Dec. 18, first episode Dec. 17
  7. Huntsville woman, 35-44, under investigation, reported Dec. 18, first episode Dec. 17
  8. Huntsville man, 35-44, outbreak, reported Dec. 18, first episode Dec. 17
  9. Huntsville woman, 45-64, under investigation, reported Dec. 18, first episode Dec. 17
  10. Huntsville man, 45-64, under investigation, reported Dec. 18, first episode Dec. 17
  11. Muskoka Lakes woman, 45-64, under investigation, reported Dec. 18, first episode Dec. 15
  12. Bracebridge man, 65-79, under investigation, reported Dec. 17, first episode Dec. 15
  13. Gravenhurst woman, 18-34, under investigation, reported Dec. 17, first episode Dec. 14
  14. Gravenhurst man, 18-34, under investigation, reported Dec. 17, first episode Dec. 16
  15. Gravenhurst man, 35-44, under investigation, reported Dec. 17, first episode Dec. 14
  16. Gravenhurst woman, 45-64, under investigation, reported Dec. 17, first episode Dec. 14
  17. Lake of Bays man, 18-34, under investigation, reported Dec. 17, first episode Dec. 9
  18. Muskoka Lakes man, 18-34, under investigation, reported Dec. 17, first episode Dec. 16
  19. Lake of Bays resident, 18-34, under investigation, reported Dec. 14, first episode Dec. 9

(*Gravenhurst case moved to another health unit.)

Meanwhile, 23 per cent of yesterday’s 3,728 COVID cases in Ontario were unvaccinated — 865 people. And 284 Ontarians were in hospital, including 164 in ICU.

COVID and booster clinics as of Monday

As of this morning individuals 18+ who had their second vaccine at least three months (84 days) ago are now able to book an appointment for their booster shot at a health unit community clinic through the COVID-19 Vaccination Portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.

The health unit says that with many more people now eligible for their booster dose, the demand for COVID-19 vaccination is high.

The health unit asks the public for their patience as they try to book their appointment. The health unit will continue to monitor clinic capacity and will update availability as it is able.

Boosters at community clinics will be provided to eligible individuals as follows:

  • By appointment — Anyone 18+ and at least 3 months (84 days) from their second dose who has a booked appointment through the the COVID-19 Vaccination Portal or the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre will be vaccinated.
  • Walk-ins — To continue to prioritize those who are most at risk, walk-ins will be accommodated as we are able for the following groups provided the individual is at least 3 months (84 days) from their second dose:
  • Those aged 50+ years
  • Health care workers
  • Indigenous people and their non-Indigenous household members
  • Individuals who received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine or one dose of the Janssen vaccine

Walk-ins for those wishing to receive a first or second dose will also be accommodated as they are able.

Other locations offering booster and third doses by appointment include the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at 29 Sperling Dr. in Barrie, the Cottage Country Family Health Team in Gravenhurst and the Algonquin Family Health Team in Huntsville. Additional vaccination options include appointments through select pharmacies, the GO-VAXX Bus and some Indigenous-led clinics.

At this time, the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at 29 Sperling Dr. in Barrie is only accepting walk-ins for first and second doses.

For more information about COVID-19 and details about where and how to get your vaccination, please visit our website at www.smdhu.org/COVID19.

MONDAY: COVID P.H.0. NUMBERS: … 88 CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA (173 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 3,784 AND 0 DEATHS (4,177-2) … TORONTO 1,056 (1,039), YORK 310 (365), PEEL 381 (311) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 7 (9) … PORCUPINE 5 (23) …

New tablet COVID kiosk sign-ins at some LTCs and retirement homes, like Castle Peak in Bracebridge, not only take your picture but take your temperature at the same time and issue a sticky photo ID tag.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

*Due to the increase in cases being reported to public health, SMDHU says data entry is lagged and data presented are interim and subject to change. As of Dec. 17 less information is being collected about demographics, geography, and acquisition of confirmed COVID-19 cases, and information about case severity (e.g. hospitalization) may be delayed. Newly reported cases may not contain complete information. Several of the health unit’s analyses and visuals may be impacted by this incomplete data.

  • 17,619 cases to date
  • 87 new cases this week (on Sunday)
  • 846 cases last week, which was 50% higher than the 564 cases the week before and 588 the week before that.
  • From Dec, 22 there have been 1,929 confirmed COVID-19 cases among vaccinated individuals.
  • 4 deaths in December, 14 in November, 5 each in October and September
  • From Oct. 24 to Dec. 18 the rate of COVID-19 infection among the unvaccinated vaccine-eligible Simcoe Muskoka population is five times higher than it is for fully vaccinated population and the rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations is 15 times higher.
  • 3,396 Delta cases
  • 806 cases await confirmation of variant type
  • 1,025,140 vaccines have been administered
  • 482,503 residents have received at least one vaccine, which represents 80% of the total population
  • 84% of the population 5+ have had at least one vaccine; including 82% of youth 12 to 17
  • 35% of children 5 to 11 have also received at least one vaccine

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • Quebec reports 4,571 cases and 3 deaths. Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante tests positive.
  • Nova Scotia hits daily record Monday with 476 cases; 79 in Saskatchewan; New Brunswick 118, Nova Scotia 485 and Manitoba 333 (807 over the weekend).
  • Moderna reports promising test results against Omicron.
  • Worldwide 274.8 million COVID cases to date and 5.3 million people have died.
  • Ontario has vaccinated 90 per cent of residents once and 87.8 per cent twice.
  • Netherlands shuts down all non-essential businesses until Jan. 14.
  • British nurses are calling for more health measures as more of the workers are succumbing to mental and physical illnesses due especially now to Omicron.
  • Canada is on a new list of 10 “red countries,” including the U.S., which Israel will require its citizens get permits to visit. Most of the other 40 countries are in Africa.

EMAIL: [email protected]

28 years of ‘Local Online Journalism’

Twitter: @muskokatoday, Facebook: mclairmont1

Leave comments at end of story

SUBSCRIBE for $25 by e-transferring to [email protected]

Or go online to https://muskokatoday.com/subscriptions