19 NEW MUSKOKA COVID CASES REPORTED OVER THE WEEKEND

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — One of the worst weekends of pandemic reporting sees 19 new Muskoka cases today, including 8 in Muskoka Lakes, 6 in Bracebridge, 3 in Gravenhurst and 2 in Huntsville.

Two people in Muskoka Lakes were travel related.

Simcoe accounted for most of the 281 reported for the three-day total since Friday’s last reporting by the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit.

Public Health Ontario reported 101 today, 102 Sunday and 71 Saturday.

The health unit reported no new deaths over the weekend.

The Muskoka cases are:

1.       Gravenhurst woman, 45-64, under investigation, reported May 2, first episode May 1

2.       Gravenhurst man, 65-79, under investigation, reported May 2, first episode May 1

3.       Muskoka Lakes woman, 18-34, outbreak related, reported May 2, first episode April 28

4.       Muskoka Lakes man, 18-34, outbreak related, reported May 2, first episode April 29

5.       Muskoka Lakes man, 45-64, outbreak related, reported May 2, first episode April 30

6.       Bracebridge woman, 18-34, under investigation, reported May 1, first episode April 30

7.       Gravenhurst male, under 18, under investigation, reported May 1, first episode April 30

8.       Huntsville woman, 18-34, under investigation, reported May 1, first episode April 25

9.       Bracebridge female, under 18, close contact, reported April 30, first episode April 26

10.   Bracebridge woman, 35-44, close contact, reported April 30, first episode April 29

11.   Bracebridge woman, 45-64, community acquired, reported April 30, first episode April 26

12.   Bracebridge man, 45-64, close contact, reported April 30, first episode April 26

13.   Bracebridge man, 45-65, under investigation, reported April 30, first episode April 29

14.   Huntsville man, 45-64, community acquired, reported April 30, first episode April 25

15.   Muskoka Lakes man, 45-64, travel, reported April 30, first episode April 28

16.   Muskoka Lakes woman, 65-79, travel, reported April 30, first episode April 28

17.   Muskoka Lakes man, 18-34, outbreak related, reported April 29, first episode April 27

18.   Muskoka Lakes man, 45-64, under investigation, reported April 28, first episode April 26

19.   Muskoka Lakes woman, 45-64, community acquired, reported April 9, first episode April 6

Two previous cases in Gravenhurst and Huntsville were moved to other health unit reporting.

Meanwhile, as Ontario makes vaccines available to all residents 18+, it reported 3,436 cases and 16 deaths. That’s down from 3,732 Sunday when there were also 23 deaths.

But once again on the first day of full adult bookings frustration remained for many trying to get an appointment.

Toronto, too, was down to 985 (1,198), York was up at 351 (306) and Peel down to 714 (797).

North Bay-Parry Sound had 2 cases.

The 7-day average in Ontario is 3,577.

This as Ottawa clears to way for AstraZeneca to be given to Canadians 30 years and older.

The Public Health Agency of Canada says as of April 26, 2,274 people had been diagnosed with COVID-19 at least two weeks after getting their first dose of vaccine.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

• 10,655 cases since pandemic started
• 76 new cases Sunday; 545 last week, 14% lower than the 637 cases the week before
• 23 deaths in April, nearly double the 12 in March
• 2,769 local cases have tested positive for the COVID-19 variant of concern UK B.1.1.7 (UK), 44 cases have tested positive for the P.1 variant of concern (Brazil), 9 cases have tested positive for the B.1.351 variant of concern (South Africa) and an additional 693 cases have screened positive (awaiting confirmatory testing)
• 215,600+ vaccines have been administered by all groups including primary care and pharmacies
• 199,500+ people living in Simcoe Muskoka have received their first dose of vaccine, which is more than 32% of total population

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

• India dropped to 347,147 cases, but 3,417 deaths.
• Nepal has issued a no-fly order in or out of the country.
• The U.S. reports 245 million Americans have received at least one vaccine and 104 million two.
• Dr. Timothy Evans, the executive director of Canada’s immunity task force, says governments could start easing on restrictions when 50-60 per cent of Canadians are vaccinated, based on British studies. As of Monday, about 33 per cent of Canadians have had at least one dose, which new evidence showing that is bringing cases down and may work well alone until a second dose. This as the province also said it may shorten that wait time between vaccinations from 16 weeks due to more vaccine availability.
• Nova Scotia remained high at 133 cases.
• European Union moving to open borders within its 27-member countries.
• British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says England could end social distancing rules June 21 if cases continue to decline as well as they have recently. This as the country has now inoculated 50 million people, or 52 per of its population.

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