153 CASES AS ONTARO OPENS MORE LOCAL VACCINE BOOKINGS

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — The province’s emergency shutdown begins today with 153 new cases Friday and Saturday across the region.

And a two-day Ontario total of 6,098 — with 39 deaths.

Health officials did not report numbers Good Friday.

But today’s regional totals include 81 Friday and 72 Saturday. Thursday there were 75.

Ontario had 3,009 today, 3,089 yesterday and 2,557 Thursday.

The province’s 7-day average jumped to 2,552 from 1,944 a week ago.

Those increases come on the first day of a month of a limited lockdown.

Essential service can operate with 50 per cent capacity and non-essential with 25 per cent capacity. Schools will remain open.

In Italy a strict three-day Easter lockdown is in place.

Quebec reported 1,282 cases, up from 1,271 a day before.

NEW VACCINE APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE:

The health unit said Saturday a new batch of COVID-19 vaccine appts has been uploaded to the province’s booking system. If you are turning 70 or older OR are in one of the other eligible groups with a booking code: ow.ly/bBNS50EfQWl

What Ontario’s shutdown means:

Starting April 3, the COVID-19covid 19 Response Framework (colour-coded zones) is paused.

The impacts of these measures will be evaluated after one month to determine if it is safe to lift the restrictions or if they need to be extended.

The province says you must all follow temporary restrictions and public health and workplace safety measures.

You should:

  • stay home as much as possible
  • limit close contact to your household (the people you live with) and stay at least 2 metres apart from everyone else
  • limit trips outside your home to necessities, such as:
  • getting food or medication
  • going to medical appointments
  • supporting vulnerable community members
  • child care
  • getting exercise or walking pets

And always:

  • stay home if you have symptoms, even if they are mild
  • stay two metres apart from people you don’t live with
  • wear a mask or face covering in indoor public spaces or any time physical distancing is not possible

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • Kenya is banning the importation of one private Russian vaccine that is costing $80 per dose. They will continue to get the free vaccines from COVAX/
  • More than 130.3 million people worldwide have contracted COVID-19 and 2.84 million have died says Johns Hopkins University.

MUSKOKA TODAY RECAP:

SATURDAY: COVID BY THE NUMBERS … 72 CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA SATURDAY, 81 FRIDAY … ONTARIO 3,009 CASES (16 DEATHS), 3,089 FRIDAY … PROVINCIAL 7-DAY AVERAGE 2,552 … TORONTO 954, YORK 348, PEEL 434 … QUEBEC 1,282 … THURSDAY: GRAVENHURST MAN, MUSKOKA LAKES WOMAN, BOTH 18-34, AMONG 75 POSITIVE TESTS IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA TODAY … ONTARIO REPORTS 2,557 CASES, 23 DEATHS … TORONTO 743, YORK 311, PEEL 484, SUDBURY 13, NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 3, PETERBOROUGH 9 … ONTARIO GOING IN TO 4-WEEK LOCKDOWN AT MIDNIGHT FRIDAY DUE TO MORE DANGEROUS VARIANT SPREAD … SOME NON-ESSENTIAL RETAIL CAN REMAIN OPEN WITH 25 PER CENT CAPACITY, BUT MOST OTHER BUSINESSES HAVE TO SHUT DOWN INCLUDING INDOOR AND OUTDOOR DINING SOBER NUMBERS. TAKEOUT STILL ALLOWED … CRITICS SAY VACCINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOCUSSED MORE ON POTENTIAL YOUNGER SPREADERS AND NOT THOSE OLDER WHO MAY BE MORE COMPLIANT WITH RETRICTION RULES … QUEBEC REPORTS 1,271 CASES … MANITOBA 57 AND 2 DEATHS … ‘IT’S INSANE’ TODAY AS PEOPLE CALL 3 PHARMACIES IN GRAVENHURST, BRACEBRIDGE, HUNTSVLLE TO GET ASTRAZENECA — BUT THEY DON’T HAVE IT YET DESPITE PROVINCIAL ANNOUNCEMENT …

The province reports 72 cases today and 81 Good Friday for Simcoe-Muskoka.

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