HAIR TODAY … GONE TOMORROW AS ONTARIO MOVES TO STEP 2

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — On the eve of Ontario’s Step 2 recovery it’s Muskoka 1, Simcoe 2 today as regional cases plummet.

A Bracebridge woman, aged 18-34, is under investigation as the latest Muskoka case, after being reported to the health unit June 25 following a first episode the day before.

At midnight tonight the province will open new business doors including hair salons and barbers.

Here’s a few of the changes for tomorrow:

Gatherings:

  • Outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people.
  • Indoor gatherings of up to five people.
  • Retail, dining and indoor services
  • Essential retail stores can open to 50 per cent capacity.
  • Non-essential retail stores can open to 25 per cent capacity.
  • Stores in shopping malls can open.
  • Personal care services such as salons can open to 25 per cent capacity if masks can be worn at all times.
  • Outdoor dining expands to six people per table, with exceptions for large households.
  • Public libraries can open up to 25 per cent capacity.
  • Religious services and other ceremonies like weddings and funerals up to 25 per cent capacity.

Recreation:

  • Outdoor fitness classes with three metres of distance between people.
  • No-contact outdoor sports, with no limit on the number of people or teams.
  • Overnight camps for children.
  • Outdoor concerts, theatres, cinemas, sports facilities, horse racing and motor speedways up to 25 per cent audience capacity.
  • Outdoor water parks, fairs, festivals and amusement parks up to 25 per cent capacity.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 12,267 cases to date
  • 4 new cases this week, 40 last week, which was 38% lower than the 64 cases the week of June 13.
  • 3,988 Alpha variants, 164 Gamma, 32 Beta, 52 delta
  • 670 cases await confirmation of VOC
  • 550,120+ vaccines have been administered in Simcoe Muskoka
  • 391,550+ residents have received their vaccine, which represents 65% of the population
  • 75% of adults 18+ have had at least one vaccine
  • 57% of youth 12-17 have had their first vaccine
Simcoe-Muskoka is reporting 1 case in Bracebridge today and 2 in Barrie.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • Canada has given up on the J&J vaccine and doesn’t plan to buy any more than 10 million.
  • So sorry. Province’s new long-term care minister, Rod Phillips, apologizes for taking too long to respond to the pandemic that cost almost 4,000 seniors in residences their lives.
  • Oxygen prices in Jakarta have more than doubled as the Red Cross predicts a “catastrophe.”
Graduation day today at Gravenhurst High School was a timely affair outdoors with groups of the 64 grads dropping by every half hour this afternoon to receive their diploma in a swag bag. And to have a photo-op with principal Trent Willett as cheering staff and family looked on. (See full story tomorrow)

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