2 HUNTSVILLE CASES AMONG 57, AS 75+ AND MORE PHARMACIES NEXT IN LINE
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Two more Huntsville COVID cases Friday were among a jump to 1,745 province-wide.
And some of 57 in Simcoe-Muskoka, reports local public health.
There were 41 cases locally Thursday.
This as Ontarians aged 75+ are now eligible for vaccines — and hundreds more pharmacies are about to offer injections starting next week.
The Muskoka man and woman, who are both under investigation, were respectively aged 65-79 and 45-64. Both were reported for yesterday with first episode the day before.
Variants are also up overnight in the region by 38 totalling 916 and at that rate could easily reach the 1,000 mark over the weekend.
Active VOCs are 160.
Meanwhile, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) reports its vaccine rollout continued with 1,422 injections Thursday for a total of 63,351 including this week at primary care offices.
It also says 24 people remain in hospital, which is a daily increase of two.
To date 7,170 COVID cases have been detected.
Ontario also reported 10 new deaths as the third is spreading outside the GTA in more rural parts of the province due to increasing variants.
Toronto slipped up to 478 from 404, while went to 344 from 294, while York up by just 2 to 176.
North Bay-Parry Sound remained at zero cases, Sudbury 30 and Thunder Bay 52.
Quebec also jumped to 754 with 11 deaths. Yesterday they reported 703 and 12 deaths.
Manitoba reports 93 cases and 1 death; yesterday it was 96 and zero.
All this as vaccines are expected to go into high gear before the end of the month, as the province expands its pharmacy vaccines, going from the pilot program in Toronto, Kingston and Windsor with 327 sites.
Starting next week that will more than double to 700 and 1,500 in April.
You will be able to book through your pharmacy.
It’s not clear whether they will be open to all Ontarians at once or by age and select groups.
Local pharmacies are also playing the waiting game and watching their emails for more information from the province.
Simon Liu, owner of the Gravenhurst Shoppers Drug Mart, said today that’s the case for him and his store.
He only heard about it himself this morning.
“There’s a lot of information coming down the pipeline.
“It’s still up in the air,” he said.
“So even if it is expanded to the pharmacies, we may only be able to do the 60 to 64 age group” — like the doctors are doing.
He, too, is not sure if bookings will be internally or through the province.
Liu hopes to have more clarification from his head office.
“Right now we just sit tight and wait for the announcement.”
Meanwhile, he said he’s still doing COVID testing — including appointments today.
“It’s slowed down quite a bit. Most of the homes are doing rapid testing. So if they’re doing it there, there’s no need for them to come in here, right.
“We still have that service we’re still available.”
HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:
- 267 UK variants to date, 7 Brazilian, 1 South African
- 641 VOCs have screened positive awaiting confirmation
- 63,351 Pfizer vaccines includes more than 16,800 who have received both doses.
- 1,800+ doses of AstraZeneca vaccine have also been administered to adults 60-64 years by four Family Health Teams in Simcoe Muskoka.
- 172 new COVID cases this week. There were 298 new cases last week, including Friday. 212 the week before.
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IN OTHER COVID NEWS …
- France breaks with EU in only recommending AstraZeneca to 55+.
- Nova Scotia opens border with New Brunswick as both numbers down.
- Nunavut says it needs children to be vaccinated to protect whole community of families.
- U.S. meets goal early for 100,000 million vaccines in first 100 days of Biden’s presidency.
- CDC in U.S. says 3-feet apart in schools OK for kids with masks.
- Trudeau says every Canadian who wants will get vaccine by Canada Day.
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