5 MUSKOKA CASES AS LOCKDOWN, VACCINES BEGIN WITH ALL EYES ON NUMBERS
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — A week to watch begins with 5 new Muskoka COVID cases among 99 the health unit is reporting since Friday’s lockdown announcement.
Dr. Charles Gardner is chief among those looking at what the numbers mean and where they’re headed.
The medical officer of health for Simcoe-Muskoka, who has come under wide public and political criticism for advising today’s stay-at-home order, said in a Zoom call “for Muskoka” this morning that he hadn’t seen the daily figures.
The health unit later reported 21 cases this afternoon, the province posted 39 this morning.
North Bay-Parry Sound had 1 case.
But Gardner said Simcoe-Muskoka is “getting a continual spread” of the UK variant across the region and “to a lesser degree in Muskoka.”
He said that “it’s also the total number of COVID cases” that are of concern to him and should be to the community at large.
“We need to watch the total picture to see if that changes.
“If it does it becomes more of an argument not to remain in grey.
“If it shoots up in the wrong direction, then we become challenged about moving away from grey.”
He did say “I note the difference between Simcoe and Muskoka.
“I’ve heard that repeatedly. And I need to look at that closely as well.
“What’s the difference between Simcoe and Muskoka.”
Gardner has also been “watching that (divide) with concern all through the pandemic. Because if people didn’t move the pandemic wouldn’t move.”
He said “in fact one of the outbreaks in Muskoka is linked with movement of a person from the Barrie location to attend work.
“So movement drives the pandemic, that’s part of the reason why we’ve kept Simcoe and Muskoka together for our allocations to date. To help reduce that potential for movement.
“Though,” he said, “I’ve been challenged back about that by some municipal leaders in Muskoka, indicating that despite all of that the numbers have never been great overall, never been high overall despite that concern.”
Gardner said today he is “taking it all to heart.”
When asked about people still migrating north, he offered some new, insightful information about cottagers and Muskoka assessment centres, which are still open.
“People who are tested here — and reside here while they’re recovering — are included in our data. If they were tested here, but went back home to recover then the data would follow them to their home health unit.”
This as Muskoka — with about 11 per cent of the health unit’s population — rose to 223 total cases as of Monday, March 1.
The new cases since Friday’s lockdown announcement are:
- Gravenhurst male, 18-34, under investigation, reported Feb. 28 with a first episode of Feb. 26.
- Huntsville male, also 18-34, too under investigation, reported Feb. 28/Feb. 27.
- Bracebridge male, under 18, community acquired, reported Feb. 26/Feb. 25.
- Bracebridge male, under 18, close contact, reported Feb. 26/Feb. 25.
- Huntsville male, 18-34, under investigation, reported Feb. 26/Feb. 25.
This as Ontario reported 1,023 cases and 6 deaths, Toronto 280, York 47, Peel 182.
Quebec had 613 cases and 6 deaths; Manitoba 35 cases and 1 death. New Brunswick 1 new case.
Prince Edward Island began a 72-hour province-wide lockdown today.
HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:
- There were no new deaths this weekend and there 512 active cases
- 19 people are in hospital, including 2 more over the weekend.
- At the start of March, 190 cases of the UK variant have been reported and 309 more people have screened positive awaiting confirmed testing.
- 41,791 doses of the Pfizer vaccine have been administered in Simcoe Muskoka — 1,236 yesterday.
- This includes more than 15,000 individuals who have received both of the required doses of the vaccine.
- In addition, 2,944 (92%) long-term care residents and 3,438 (94%) retirement home residents have received their first dose.
- There have been 21 new cases reported to the health unit for the current week.
- There were 245 new cases reported last week (starting Feb. 21), about 10% lower than the 276 cases the week of Feb. 14.
- There were 31 COVID related deaths in February, which is the second highest number of deaths in a single month since the start of the pandemic.
- In the month of January, 88 Simcoe Muskoka residents died, which is four times higher than the 18 deaths in December 2020.
IN OTHER COVID NEWS …
- Ontario reports 535 UK variant cases, 27 of the South African variant and 3 from Brazil.
- In the U.S. it’s America first when it comes to vaccines, says President Joe Biden who says Canada and Mexico will have to wait till Americans get their shots before sharing with neighbours.
- B.C. to spread second dose of vaccine out to four months, while promising everyone will get inoculated by end of July.
- Reports this afternoon say the National Advisory Committee on Immunization doesn’t recommend the AstraZeneca vaccine to those over age 65.
- And Ontario may also delay second doses of the Pfizer vaccine for as long as four months. That’s the one Simcoe-Muskoka has been using.
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