HUNTSVILLE CASE AMONG 29 AS FORD WAITS CALL ON SCHOOLS

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — As Doug Ford waits on doctors to give him the go-ahead tomorrow afternoon to open schools, Simcoe-Muskoka’s health unit is reporting 29 COVID cases this afternoon.

The province said that number this morning was 47.

However, only one case was from Muskoka, a Huntsville man aged 14-34 whose contact was community acquired. He was reported May 26 with a first episode May 20.

He is among 109 cases this week, according to the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit. Last week there were 303 and the week before 345.

This as Ontario cases continue be above the 1,000 the premier and province have been saying for more than a week was their benchmark for further re-openings.

In total today the 34 health units reported 1,135 people tested positive for the coronavirus and with 19 more deaths.

Toronto upped its numbers to 316 from 257, York dropped to 75 from 101 and Peel climbed back up to 275 from 215 — all the day before.

Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, said this afternoon he is consulting with regional health units, the ministry of education and teachers on how and when to proceed.

He called the consultations “a group effort.”

But overall he said students and staff will be safe.

So it remains to be seen whether it will be a province-wide opening or only certain regions.

Williams said GTHA school boards say they can accommodate a return to classes.

But with a month to the end of the school year some families may opt to wait until September.

This as the province is scrambling to use up 45,000 of doses of the AstaZeneca vaccine that expire Monday and 10,000 more that must be used in June.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 11,793 cases to date
  • 18 deaths in May, 25 in April and 12 in March
  • 3,633 UK variants, 105 from Brazil, 19 from South Africa and 3 from India
  • 733 more cases awaits screening to confirm the type of variant
  • 325,000+ vaccines have been administered in Simcoe Muskoka
  • 297,700+ people living in Simcoe Muskoka have received their first dose of vaccine, which represents over 49% of the total population.
Here’s the numbers to watch for school openings.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • Grocers have agreed to create a code of conduct to rein in rising supply costs that have driven up public food prices during the pandemic. The alliance of major grocery chains — including Loblaw and Walmart — independent retailers, food manufacturers and distributors is in response to claims that suppliers are being squeezed for higher fees.
  • Quebec will hand out the second AstraZeneca vaccine after 8 weeks.
  • Meanwhile, Manitoba is extending its restrictions as cases climbed to 297 with 8 deaths.
Schools are getting ready to re-open possibly Tuesday June 1.

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