BRACEBRIDGE, HUNTSVILLE CASES AMONG 88 IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA TODAY

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Two more Muskoka people are among 88 cases of COVID being reported today by the health unit.

And 9 new deaths in the region since yesterday, all in Simcoe, for a total of 101. Three of them have been in Muskoka.

One of the new cases is a Bracebridge man, aged 18-34, whose infection was community acquired. His case was as of Jan. 20, with a first episode date of Jan. 12.

The other is an older Huntsville woman, between the ages of 45-64, who obtained it through an outbreak. Her case, too, was as of yesterday, and a Jan. 18 first episode date.

Most of the other cases were outbreak related in Barrie, where about a half dozen cases at the Roberta Place LTC now appear to be of a variant strain of the coronavirus.

This as the province reported 2,632 cases and 46 deaths.

Toronto corrected earlier reporting this week bringing its daily toll to 897, Peel 412 and York 245.

Quebec Premier François Legault  is crediting its overnight curfew for a drop to 1,624 today, but with 66 more deaths.

Manitoba’s numbers were back up to 198 and 5 deaths.

NOTES:

  • The health unit removed one earlier case from Muskoka Lakes and 11 outbreak-related cases previously reported for Barrie that did not meet case definition upon further review.
  • There have been 14,413 Pfizer doses in Simcoe North and Muskoka, mainly to health care workers in local hospitals, long-term care and retirement homes. As well as community and family caregivers. This includes 927 individuals that have received both of the required doses of the vaccine. In addition, 2,845 (or 89%) long-term care residents have received their first dose.
  • Simcoe and Muskoka are one of seven regions to complete LTC vaccine distribution, along with Toronto, Peel, York, Durham, Ottawa and Windsor-Essex.
  • But with dwindling supplies of vaccines, only 228 were handed out yesterday.
  • There have been 235 new cases reported to the health unit for the current week. There were 447 new cases reported to the health unit last week (week of Jan. 10), lower than the 495 cases reported for the week starting Sunday Jan. 3.
  • The average daily growth in confirmed cases remains at 1.4%, which could see about 595 cases Feb. 7-13, or about 85 cases per day with a projected weekly incidence rate of 100 cases per 100,000 population.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS:

  • Ontario swabbed 70,300 people yesterday and dispensed 15,899 vaccines.
  • The total 253,817 vaccines now surpass the 247,564 people with positive COVID results.
  • Canada is not receiving any Pfizer vaccines next week.
  • Biden’s job one is the pandemic, as he presents a full-court press on the coronavirus with a series of executive orders as the country’s daily death toll surpasses 400,000 in his second day in office.
Sunnier days may be ahead, at least for those afflicted with COVID fatigue and anyone suffering from seasonal affective disorders, as a trend toward fewer positive cases give rise to hope despite a slowdown in vaccine distribution.

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