2 MUSKOKA CASES AS SCHOOLS CAN ONLY HOLD OUTDOOR GRADUATIONS

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Now that schools won’t reopen a couple of Muskoka COVID cases seem trivial today.

But you’d have to ask the two men, both aged 45-64, how they feel:

A Gravenhurst resident who under investigation after reporting yesterday with his first episode May 31.

And a person from Muskoka Lakes contracted the infection that was community acquired. He, too, reported June 1 with a first episode May 25.

It’s the same in Simcoe where 19 more cases were reported by the health unit.

And you’d have to ask the family in Simcoe who lost a loved one yesterday.

Premier Doug Ford said this afternoon — in announcing schools won’t return to in-class learning this month or before September — that the COVID risk isn’t one he’s willing to take with students.

But he is willing to let kids graduate in outdoor ceremonies in a few weeks.

That may be because as of today 54 per cent of Simcoe-Muskoka residents (326,249) have been vaccinated once and 6.5 per cent (39,127) a second time.

This as the Alpha (UK) variant is on the rise in many countries, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is reporting 10 cases Wednesday.

All this has families about as confused as the vaccine rollout.

Conflicting messages about the safety of schools now vs. before kids moved to virtual learning leaves everyone in limbo.

At least for a dozen more days until the Ford government reflects on new health and political advice.

HEATLH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 11,954 cases to date
  • 56 new cases this week, 208 last week, which was 31% lower than the 303 cases the week of May 16.
  • 1 death in June, 18 in May, 25 in April and 12 in March
  • 3,752 Alpha cases (UK) 114 Gamma (Brazil), 21 Beta (South Africa) and 10 Delta (India).
  • have tested positive for the COVID-19 variant of concern UK B.1.1.7 (UK), 114 cases have tested positive for the P.1 variant of concern (Brazil), 21 cases have tested positive for the B.1.351 variant of concern (South Africa), 10 cases have tested positive for the B.1.617 variant of concern (India), and an additional 727 cases have screened positive (awaiting confirmatory testing).
  • Over 359,900 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Simcoe Muskoka, including doses administered by local pharmacies. Over 326,200 individuals living in Simcoe Muskoka have received their first dose of vaccine, which represents over 54% of the total population.
Cases ticked up by 3 today across Simcoe-Muskoka.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • An Israeli study has found 275 cases of heart inflammation known as myocardiac among five million young men who received the Pfizer vaccine in a study between Dec. 2020 and May.
  • Dr. Priya Sampathkumar, chair of infection prevention and control at the Minnesota-based Mayo Clinic, says vaccine gains in North America risk being undermined by global cases that have led to a spread of new viruses. There are nearly 193,000 cases in Canada of the Alpha variant (formerly known as the UK variant), according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Ontario has the most at 125,035, Alberta is next at 42,311, B.C. 8,015, Quebec 6,420, Saskatchewan 5,529, Manitoba 4,651 and all other provinces and territories under 200 cases.
Gabriel Tangredi, 5, gives the thumbs up to a day at the West Gravenhurst beach, as his dad, Kyle, looks forward to tonight’s Canadiens playoff game against the Jets.
Karyna Boonstra, left, and Jacqueline T. enjoy some rays while taking an afternoon break at the beach in West Gravenhurst yesterday.

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