3 MUSKOKA CASES, AS 42 TESTED IN BARRIE WRONGLY TOLD THEY HAD COVID
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Muskokans returned to COVID status today as a “third wave’ is confirmed.
The three people — two from Muskoka Lakes and one from Huntsville — were under the age of 18 and ranged up to age 64.
And were among 44 as reported Wednesday by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU), which said 25 were cases in Barrie.
The Muskoka cases were:
- Huntsville boy under 18 with close contact first reported yesterday and with a first episode March 10.
- Muskoka Lakes woman under investigation also first reported yesterday and with a first episode March 14.
- Muskoka Lakes man, 18-34, with close contact, who was first reported March 8 after a first episode March 6.
They are among 82 cases this week says the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) Wednesday.
They also note today a major error has been identified at a laboratory when uploading COVID-19 results from tests administered at a Barrie testing site on March 14.
It resulted in 42 people mistakenly being told they had COVID and “the negative cases being erroneously classified as positive.”
They say the actual number of positive cases among Simcoe Muskoka residents reported on Tuesday March 16 should have been 29.
Today’s HealthSTATS figures will reflect the majority (34) of the corrections with the remainder being corrected over the next few days.
The residents whose tests were wrongly reported are being contacted directly and the case information, as tracked on the Case List page was removed as of 2 p.m. today with the explanation that “removed does not meet definition.”
The March 17 note at the bottom of the list read: “March 17th – 35 cases (20 Barrie, 3 Clearview, 3 Innisfil, 3 Severn, 3 Springwater, Essa, Bradford and New Tecumseth) were removed. 34 of these cases were incorrectly reported as positive cases due to a laboratory data error and 1 case was transferred to a different Public Health Unit.”
This as more than 900 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine have now been administered to adults 60-64 years by four Family Health Teams in Simcoe-Muskoka.
Meanwhile, MOH Dr. Gardner apologized yesterday after 10 people in Muskoka on Monday had been given wrong dates for vaccine bookings — after signing up through the provincial portal. They were rescheduled by local health officials after arriving for their appointment and being refused an injection and sent home.
At the mass vaccination clinics, anyone 80+ can now apply.
And with a little more ease after major delays.
Mary Tompsett, of Gravenhurst, whose plight we’ve been following, said she finally got on yesterday through the provincial portal.
“I don’t know what I did,” said the 93-year-old with a smile in her voice.
“I got on right away,” after futile attempts the past week and more.
“I didn’t know which date or time to pick.”
So she booked herself in to Bracebridge on March 25 at 10:30 a.m.
In a happy coincidence, her neighbour Barb McGill had also just successfully gotten an appointment.
For the same day at 10:36 a.m.
“So we can go together,” beamed Tompsett over the phone.
In other numbers today, North Bay-Parry Sound held steady with no cases, while west of it in Sudbury 18 people tested positive. Further northwest at the top of Lake Superior, Thunder Bay reported 63 cases.
Overall, Ontario’s numbers jumped significantly with 1,508 cases, up from 1,074.
Toronto had 542 of them, Peel was significantly up to 253 and York was 107.
Quebec, too, rose to 703 and a dozen deaths; Manitoba had 96 cases and no deaths.
HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:
- There remain 3 active cases in the Muskoka retail sector dating back to March 9.
- 58,698 people have gotten the Pfizer vaccine. This includes more than 16,000 who have received both doses. In addition, more than 3,000 (or 94%) long-term care residents and over 3,400 (or 95%) retirement home residents have received their first dose.
- There have been 82 new cases reported to the health unit for the current week, 297 last week, which was 40% higher than the 212 the week of Feb. 28.
- NEW SURVEY: SMDHU is conducting a second local COVID-19 impact survey to gain more insight into how individuals and families in Simcoe Muskoka have been affected by the pandemic. This is a follow up to the first survey conducted in fall 2020. The survey can be completed in English or French and is anonymous with no identifiable information being collected. Click here for more information about the survey.
- And Click here to participate in the survey now.
- The B.1.1.7 variant, first detected in the United Kingdom in the fall of 2020, is the most common variant of concern (VOC) identified in Simcoe Muskoka. As of March 17, 2021 there are a total of 861 variant cases (B.1.1.7, P.1, B.1.351 and screened positive cases).
- As of March 17, 2021, there are 5 active COVID-19 outbreaks that have known variant cases.
- The 7-day moving average of new VOC/screened positive cases as of March 16, 2021 is 17 cases/day.
IN OTHER COVID NEWS …
- U.S. deaths plummet as country doubles Canada’s population in vaccines.
- Banking expert Mark Carney says Canada must return to manufacturing vaccines and PPE.
- Say “Ahh!” Or is it awe? From head to toes new COVID symptoms are emerging with rashes on tongues and toes.
- New Brunswick pharmacists start injecting customers today.
- Speech experts concerned masks could impede language development among kids.
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