8 MUSKOKA CASES REPORTED AFTER EASTER HOLIDAY WEEKEND

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Easter’s rising now includes 8 new Muskoka COVID cases reported today after the holiday weekend and as Premier Doug Ford hints at harsher restrictions.

According to the province’s website, there have been 449 cases reported locally the past seven days. Those include 55 today, 68 Monday, 76 Sunday, 72 Saturday, 81 Friday, 73 Thursday and 24 Wednesday.

The health unit said late this afternoon their updated numbers — which include 116 since Sunday — date back two weeks.

The latest eight include:

  • Bracebridge man 65-79, under investigation, reported April 4, with first episode April 3
  • Lake of Bays male, under 18, close contact, reported April 4, first episode March 27
  • Huntsville woman, 45-64, under investigation, reported April 3, first episode April 2
  • Bracebridge woman, 18-34, under investigation, reported April 2, first episode April 1
  • Lake of Bays woman, 18-34, close contact, reported April 1, first episode March 30
  • Lake of Bays man, 45-64, under investigation, first episode April 1, first episode March 31
  • Muskoka Lakes man, 18-34, under investigation, reported April 1, first episode March 31
  • Muskoka Lakes man, 18-34, close contact, reported March 23, first episode March 21

Of the 3,065 new cases reported today in Ontario, the “troubling trend” includes 56 per cent of them in the province’s Big 3 GTA health units — Toronto 955, Peel 561 and York 320.

This as Toronto schools will be closed starting tomorrow till April 19 — after the spring break. Peel closed its schools starting today.

Meanwhile, Ontario begins Phase 2 of its vaccine rollout to include those aged 60+.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 1,084 UK cases have been detected, 18 from Brazil and 1 from South Africa.
  • 374 other cases have screened positive awaiting second VOC confirmation.
  • More than 109,500 doses of vaccines have been administered.
  • This includes more than 18,000 who have received both of the required doses of the vaccine.
  • There have been 116 new cases reported to the health unit for the current week. There were 444 cases last week — 44% higher than the 308 cases reported the week of March 21.
  • There has been 1 death in April. In March 12 residents died.
A quick look at post Easter rising.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • Nunavut and Yukon have had no VOCs. Ontario currently has 2,165 and Alberta 6,273. B.C. 2,771 and Quebec 1,424.
  • Ontario has 26,568 active cases today.
  • The provincial positivity rate is up to 8.9 per cent from 7.8 per cent yesterday.
  • Quebec’s case count for Tuesday is 1,168 and 4 deaths; Manitoba reported 62 cases.
  • Canadian reports about rising cases among youth come as some American states are rethinking policies around children and COVID, including team sports.
  • The Texas Rangers opened their MLB season last night against the Toronto Blue Jays before a sold-out crowd of 40,000 in Arlington who were told they had to wear masks, but many entered wearing face covers then unmasked.
  • Joe Biden said this afternoon that 90 per cent of Americans will have access to vaccine centres within 5 miles of their homes.
  • The Catholic president also agreed with Pope Francis that the vaccine is a “moral obligation.”

MUSKOKA TODAY RECAP …

TUESDAY: COVID BY THE NUMBERS … 8 CASES IN MUSKOKA AMONG 55 IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA TODAY — 3 IN LAKE OF BAYS, 3 IN MUSKOKA LAKES, 2 IN BRACEBRIDGE … PREMIER DOUG FORD HINTS AT HARSHER RESTRICTIONS AS NUMBERS CONTINUE TO RISE ON DAY 4 OF SHUTDOWN DOCTORS PUSH FOR CHANGES IN VACCINE ROLLOUT TO TARGET ‘HOT SPOTS’ AND MOST VULNERABLE GROUPS … 3,065 IN ONTARIO, 8 DEATHS … 56 PER CENT IN ‘BIG 3’ HEALTH UNITS OF TORONTO 955, YORK 320, PEEL 561 … PHASE 2 OF VACCINE ROLLOUT BEGINS WEDNESDAY WITH THOSE AGED 60+ … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND ZERO … PETERBOROUGH 2, SUDBURY 23 … QUEBEC 1,168 AND 4 DEATHS … TEXAS RANGERS’ SEASON OPENER LAST NIGHT AGAINST THE TORONTO BLUE JAYS IN ARLINGTON DREW 40,000 FANS — NOT ALL WEARING MASKS AS ORDERED … JOE BIDEN SAYS 90 PER CENT OF AMERICANS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO VACCINE 5 MILES FROM THEIR HOMES … CATHOLIC U.S. PRESIDENT AGREES WITH POPE FRANCIS THAT GETTING VACCINE IS “MORAL OBLIGATION” … QUEBEC HAS 1,168 CASES, 4 DEATHS … MANITOBA 62 CASES … YUKON, NUNUVAT HAVE NO VOCS … ONTARIO’S 7-DAY AVERAGE UP 30 PER CENT OVER LAST WEEK TO 2,862 …

COVID numbers are a lot like scratching a lotto card now – you don’t know the numbers you’ll get. Only that you’re fortunes aren’t likely to rise like the number of cases.

Email news@muskokatoday.com

Celebrating 27 YEARS of ‘Local Online Journalism’

Follow us on at Twitter @muskokatoday & on Facebook at mclairmont1

Leave your comments at end of story.

Send Letters to the Editor at news@muskokatoday.com

SUBSCRIBE for $25 by e-transferring to news@muskokatoday.com

Or go online to https://muskokatoday.com/subscriptions