GRAVENHURST MAN GETS COVID-19 AFTER TRAVEL, AS VACCINE COMING

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — A Gravenhurst man who contracted the COVID virus the past few days through travel is the only Muskoka resident to test positive in today’s local public health reporting.

Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) reports 42 other cases in Simcoe.

The Gravenhurst man, who is between the ages of 45 and 64, first found out he had the corona virus on Saturday, Feb. 20. It was first reported by the health unit yesterday, Feb. 23.

This on the eve SMDHU’s vaccine rollout plan to be announced tomorrow — and as the province today unveiled who will be vaccinated first and when.

See those two stories elsewhere here and here on the MuskokaTODAY.com website.

Local health officials also report no new deaths (187) and no hospitalizations (21 currently in hospital as of Feb. 24).

However 60 new variant cases were detected.

There have been 6,334 cases to date, with 526 active.

This as the province and Public Health Ontario (PHO) reported 53 cases in Simcoe-Muskoka and 1 in North Bay Parry Sound.

Provincially PHO reported 1,054 cases and 9 deaths.

Toronto had the most cases at 363, while York Region reported 94 and Peel 186.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Huntsville, with 67 cases is the only Muskoka municipality with enough cases to have a rating of per 100,000. Its incidents qualify it for a 42 per 100,000 in February.
  • That compares to Barrie, which has spiked to 109 per 100 this month. Last month it was just 50. Innisfil is at 46 per 100,000 and New Tecumseh at 44.
  • Orillia, too, did not have enough applicable cases to warrant a statistic.
  • To date 174 local cases have been tested positive for the COVID-19 variant of concern UK B.1.1.7 and an additional 270 cases have screened positive (awaiting confirmatory testing)
  • 36,120 doses of the Pfizer vaccine have been administered in Simcoe Muskoka.
  • There have been 111 new cases reported this current week, 277 last week and 210 the week before.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • If and when you get vaccinated, guard that piece of proof with your life – because some day it could depend on it. If not at least to go anywhere. You’ve heard of green cards, well in Israel ‘Green Passes’ are proof you’ve had your shot, letting you in to at least one concert so far.
  • Alberta was swamped today with people desperately trying to book vaccine appointment its first day. Ontario says it can do better with its online, call centre and “customer support desk.”
  • Moderna coming to aid of Canada with 1.3 million doses next month, says Justin Trudeau.
Case counts across Simcoe Muskoka show not that much easing.
Nancy Quesnelle and others her age will be getting the vaccine within a few months, after the province announced its plans today for seniors starting the third week of March with those who are aged 80+.

Email mark@muskokatoday.com or news@muskokatoday.com

Celebrating 26 YEARS of ‘Local Online Journalism’

Follow us at Twitter @muskokatoday & on Facebook at mclairmont1

Leave your comments at end of story. Or write a letter to the Editor at news@muskokatoday.com

And subscribe for $25 by e-transferring to news@muskokatoday.com

Or online at https://muskokatoday.com/subscriptions