GRAVENHURST, BRACEBRIDGE, MUSKOKA LAKES CASES AMONG 75 TODAY

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Cases climbed back up to 75 today in Muskoka as Health Canada has approved the Pfizer vaccine for kids as young as 12.

Yesterday the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit reported 52.

Today the province said their number was 65.

The Muskoka cases include:

  1. Bracebridge male, under 18, close contact, reported May 3, first episode May 3.
  2. Gravenhurst female, under 18, under investigation, reported May 4, first episode May 3
  3. Gravenhurst woman, 35-44, community acquired, reported May 4, first episode April 27
  4. Muskoka Lakes man, 18-34, community acquired, reported May 1, first episode April 29

This as Ontario kept it cases below 3,000 today, with 2,941, but more deaths at 44. (Yesterday provincially there were 2,791 cases and 25 deaths.)

The Big 3 were all down as Toronto remained under 1,000 at 924 (931), York was at 254 (275) and Peel 565 (653).

North Bay-Parry Sound dropped back to 2 from 6.

Meanwhile on the east coast and in the west cases continue to climb.

Nova Scotia reported 175 today; and in Alberta where it’s the new hot bed of the coronavirus in North America they had 1,743 cases Tuesday.

And more confusion around new approval for the Pfizer vaccine for children as young as 12.

Various media reports say it is only for those aged 12-15; while other sources say it is for all kids as young as 12.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 10,773 cases to date
  • 186 new cases this week, 554 last week and 637 the week before
  • There were 25 COVID-19 deaths in April, double the 12 Simcoe Muskoka residents who died from COVID-19 in March.
  • 3 deaths so far in May.
  • 2,874 local cases have tested positive for the COVID-19 variant of concern UK B.1.1.7 (UK), 49 cases have tested positive for the P.1 variant of concern (Brazil), 13 cases have tested positive for the B.1.351 variant of concern (South Africa) and an additional 696 cases have screened positive (awaiting confirmatory testing).
  • 222,300+ vaccines have been administered in Simcoe Muskoka, including doses administered by local pharmacies.
  • 206,250+ people living in Simcoe Muskoka have received their first dose of vaccine — 33% of the total population.
Here are the health unit’s numbers for your perusal.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • U.S. President Joe Biden says the government will waive patents for vaccines so more can be made.
Simcoe-Muskoka is looking at 75 more cases today, including 2 in Gravenhurst and 1 each in Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes.

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