February 9, 2021

UPDATE: 1 MUSKOKA LAKES COVID CASE, 35 IN SIMCOE TUESDAY

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — With the health unit reporting 36 COVID cases this afternoon (one in Muskoka Lakes), Dr. Charles Gardner says the variant spread in March looms large in the region.

That’s why he’s doesn’t support looser provincial restrictions.

But he’s still on board with schools opening this week as children are less likely to be medically impacted.

The medical officer of health for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit says it’s always case of the benefit cost.

For him kids in class is important for their mental health growth, outweighing the risk of them on the streets.

That’s also why he would prefer students stay in school during a March Break.

He said it wouldn’t be “wise” for students to just return to school then go out again.

“It’s quite a bit more likely we’ll see an increase in cases next month. And I’m concerned the loss of that stay at home order will make us more vulnerable to that.”

But it’s a provincial decision, he quickly added.

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA DIVIDE

As is any talk of sub-dividing the health unit, which he doesn’t support due to people already travelling between to the two areas for services.

So one colour-code zone for the entire region works better, he said.

And what the colour will be next week remains a mystery Gardner himself would like to be privy to today to help guide his own planning.

He said it’s possible the region could return to a red or even an orange zone.

Making the numbers the next few days vital to any decision.

MUSKOKA LAKES CASE TODAY

The case of a young Muskoka Lakes woman, aged 35-44, under investigation, is part of that discussion as local numbers have trended down the past five weeks from 279 last week to 305, 444, 447 and 495 starting the week of Jan. 3.

With 5,787 cases that’s up 593 the past two weeks.

There are now 819 active cases.

69 DEATHS AT ROBERTA PLACE

While Gardner likes those numbers, with 38 deaths alone the past two weeks he’s remains “cautious.”

Of the 169 deaths to date, 84 per cent of them have been from outbreaks, including 66 confirmed and 3 probable cases at Roberta Place in Barrie all due to the UK variant.

Gardner said the outbreak at Roberta Place could be lifted in two weeks if cases continue to go down.

VACCINES FOR THOSE OVER AGE 80 FIRST

On the topic of vaccines, Gardner said he’d like to have more of the Pfizer being used locally. And in fact one day recently he had to borrow doses some from South Lake hospital in Newmarket to meet demand. He expects to return them when he gets his next shipment.

So far 22,155 doses have been handed out (7,000 the past two weeks and 259 yesterday) with 90 per cent of LTC residents and 65 per cent of retirement home residents having received at least the first Pfizer vaccine. Second doses are now underway.

That’s 2,880 LTC residents with their first does and 1,276 the second.

In retirement homes 2,375 residents have received first doses. They will get second doses this week.

Another 5,094 health care workers and essential caregivers at the homes have received the first dose and 2,053 their second dose.

Among other hospital and health care professionals and alternate level of care residents 5,416 have had the first injection and 2,417 their second.

At Roberta Place, where there are an additional 145 cases among staff households, the health unit it also monitoring 443 contacts of them to make sure they don’t become COVID cases or if they do they stay in quarantine.

9 DEATHS AT RVH IN BARRIE

At RVH there are two outbreaks.

In the stroke unit — where the latest began Jan. 30 — there 24 patient cases and 9 people have died. And 26 staff have tested positive.

At Bradford Valley Care Community there have 6 positive staff cases, 15 residents and 2 deaths. Three staff have the UK variant and 6 residents with 4 more likely.

Gardner said he “feels confident” that all the cases there are of the UK variant.

At the Waypoint mental health facility in Penetanguishene there are 16 patients and 12 staff COVID cases and 5 deaths. All believed to be UK variant.

‘MEDIA BLITZ ENFORCEMENT’ FEB. 5-8

In terms of enforcement, a provincial “media blitz” took place this week, Feb. 5-8, across Simcoe and Muskoka, with 33 “enforcers” from the province, 13 local bylaw staff, 11 health unit staff and 6 police.

Gardner said he didn’t have all the figures back, but as for the health unit they made 170 business visits and ticketed 14 for violations including no safety plan, no screening of staff, not capacity signage and general cleaning and disinfectant violations.

He said his staff were being “fair when applying the law.”

And that 83.5 per cent of the inspections were in Simcoe 16.6 per cent in Muskoka, where there was reportedly at least one business owner ticketed in Bracebridge.

Gardner did tell media in his weekly briefing that Barrie will now be part of waste water testing study to find both the COVID and its variant in the waste. It is being done in conjunction with the University of Ottawa and Children’s Hospital of EasternOntario

Orillia and Collingwood are in similar talks for studies.

Gardner also said “local planning” is underway to begin public vaccine distribution that would see primary health care providers (doctors) with lists of patients over the age of 80 contacting them to go to clinics to be first in line to be injected.

Later this year doctors and pharmacies could also give out the vaccine.

Gardner agreed, when asked about the prevalence of people with dementia being more susceptible to COVID. He said they tend to wander more widely and being exposed more.

Toronto reported 343 cases, Peel 250 and York 128.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

Public Health Ontario is reporting less than two dozen cases of COVID in Simcoe-Muskoka today.
The Simcoe-Muskoka cases are among 1,022 across the province where 17 more people have died.
Toronto reported 343 cases, Peel 250 and York 128.
Quebec, too, continues its downward trend with 826 cases and 32 deaths. Manitoba reports 75 cases, 19 deaths.
World Health Organization says virus “extremely unlikely” to have come from lab in Wuhan, China. Likely source was an animal host.
Dementia diagnosis makes you twice as susceptible to COVID, study finds.
As of next Monday anyone driving back into Canada from the United States will have lab proof of a negative COVID test, similar to restrictions imposed on those still able to fly home. That means getting the test 72 hours before crossing the border. Rapid tests don’t count. But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said late this morning in announcing the new measure that Canada can’t stop Canadians from returning home, however they will have to quarantine for 14 days if they haven’t had the test.