GRAVENHURST WOMAN ONLY MUSKOKA CASE TODAY, WITH 33 IN SIMCOE
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — A Gravenhurst woman is among 34 COVID cases the health unit is reporting today.
She is 65 to 79 years of age, under investigation and was first reported March 2 with an initial episode of March 1.
All the other cases are in Simcoe.
The province said there were 39 local cases.
This as the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) is “full” up and overflowing with vaccine requests.
It notes on its website: “Our vaccination appointments and wait list for dates up to and including March 16, 2021 are FULL. Those who are currently on the wait list will be contacted by the health unit with an appointment date between March 10th to 16th. We ask for your patience as we call those on the wait list.”
But don’t lose hope, though, you can still sign up because if more doses become available to the health unit — or there are cancellations — you will be contacted.
And be ready at a moment’s notice to travel anywhere within the region to the nearest clinic with doses to spare.
Mary Flavell Leger said today she finally “managed to get someone on the waiting list who has chronic home care. The ‘over 85’ waiting list was already full at the Bracebridge site.
“I booked on line because his wife got frustrated waiting on the phone for half an hour and being disconnected three times while trying to get through.”
No wonder people are getting busy signals when calling older friends who may be stuck on the line trying to book an appointment.
Nationally, provinces are lining up behind B.C.’s chief medical officer of health Bonnie Henry who will extend second vaccine doses out 12-16 weeks.
It’s all in a bid, she said, to give more people a chance to get at least the first dose.
Saskatchewan is the latest province to confirm the same.
That as Ontario’s Ministry of Health is defending 1,500 vaccine doses that were wasted because they were left over in vials because the staff didn’t squeeze a sixth dose out of them or they didn’t have anyone to give it to.
CTV says the 1,100 Pfizer and 400 Modern losses, which would have been given to 750 people, were lost between December and March.
Ontario reported 30,000 vaccines alone dispensed yesterday.
Also of note today, Huntsville says its COVID-19 Testing and Assessment Centre at the Active Living Centre (where the vaccine clinic is also located) is no longer accepting walk-in appointments. It’s now by appointment only. To book an appointment in Huntsville, adults must pre-screen themselves or loved ones to ensure they are eligible, and call 1-888-383-7009 Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
VARIANTS OF CONCERN
Now let’s turn your attention to the variants of great concern.
SMDHU reports 54 new variants today — 14 confirmed as the UK variant and 40 others under investigation.
To date there have been 583 VOC reports — 205 confirmed as the UK and 378 others unconfirmed, but all likely UK.
It says there are 7 active UK cases and 134 active VOCs awaiting confirmation.
HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:
- To date 205 local cases have been tested positive for the COVID-19 variant of concern UK B.1.1.7 and an additional 378 cases have screened positive (awaiting confirmatory testing)
- More than 44,078 Pfizer vaccines have been administered in Simcoe Muskoka (1,382 yesterday), including more than 15,500 individuals who have received both of the required doses of the vaccine. In addition, 2,958 (or 92%) long-term care residents and 3,460 (or 95%) retirement home residents have received their first dose.
- There have been 104 new cases reported to the health unit for the current week, 255 last week and 276 the week before.
IN OTHER COVID NEWS …
- More than 300 pharmacies in Toronto, Kingston, Windsor will distribute vaccine in pilot project with 46 appointments per day.
- At health units across the province, numbers were also up to 994 with 10 deaths (958 yesterday, 17 deaths).
- North Bay-Parry Sound remained at 2 cases. Toronto was up to 298 from 249 a day ago; as was Peel 171 (164). York dropped to 64 (92).
- Africans will begin getting vaccines this month says WHO.
- Premiers and PM sniping at each other over Canada health care transfer funding.
- Brampton pediatrician reprimanded by College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario yesterday for “irresponsible” tweets about pandemic last summer, including one that said then that vaccines aren’t necessary.
- Add 11 new border crossings, including Windsor, where motorists coming from the U.S. must get a second in-person proof of COVID testing receipt. Five other crossings have the same requirements. Ottawa has said everyone entering Canada should be tested beforehand.
- Third wave talk still in play according to private forecaster Scarism, says Toronoto Star.
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