2 MUSKOKA CASES TO START WEEK AND 6 MORE IN SIMCOE MONDAY

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — The week begins the way it ended — with 8 cases reported today by regional health officials.

That’s the same number as Friday — but with a bit of twist.

Muskoka accounted for 2 of the new cases.

They were:

  • Gravenhurst male, under 18, with close contact, reported July 23 with a first episode July 15
  • Huntsville male, 18-34, under investigation, reported Jul 21 with a first episode July 14

Three of the other five cases — all in Simcoe — were first reported yesterday.

They are among 119 Public Health Ontario (PHO) reports provincewide along with 3 deaths.

Locally, there are 30 active cases being reported by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.

And only 3 people are in hospital.

Four variants bring their active number of cases up to 9, while the Delta variants of concern remained at 105 over the weekend.

Total COVID cases are now up to 12,358, with 68.3% of regional residents vaccinated once and 53.5% fully vaccinated.

MONDAY: COVID BY THE NUMBERS … 3 CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA  (2 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 119 AND 3 DEATH (172-2) … TORONTO 22 (48), YORK 8 (9), PEEL 13 (23) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 1 (0) … PORCUPINE 1 (5) …

Gravenhurst Rotarian Marg McLaughlin, a natural salesperson, was among the service club’s members who raised more than $1,000 at a ‘Trunk Sale’ Saturday morning at the arena parking lot.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 12,358 cases to date
  • 3 new cases this week since Sunday, 22 last week, which was 38% higher than the 16 cases the week of July 11
  • 4 deaths in July, 6 in June
  • 4,000 Alpha variants to date, 166 Gamma, 34 Beta, 105 Delta
  • 674 cases await confirmation of variant
  • 743,870+ vaccines have been administered in Simcoe Muskoka
  • 413,020+ residents have received their first vaccine, which represents 68% of the population.
  • 79% of adults 18+ have had at least one vaccine
  • 65% of youth 12 to 17 have also had their first vaccine
Better than expected numbers out of the health unit entering the final week of July.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • Quebec is the first province to offer a third vaccine. It is for those who received AstraZeneca and is meant for people travelling abroad to countries that don’t recognize AZ. The third shot, which does not improve efficacy, will be either Pfizer or Moderna. Monday Quebec had 75 new cases. The province also relaxed restrictions, including allowing 15,000 people at outdoor events and 7,500 at indoor gathering — but there’s still no dancing allowed (together, apart of officially).
  • Only 3 cases in parts of the Maritimes: 1 each in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and none Newfoundland-Labrador.
  • Pfizer and Moderna are testing vaccines for kids 5 to 11.
  • Ontario won’t throw kids under the school bus. He says if he has to he will drive a school bus to make sure they will return to classes come September.
  • California, New York City and Veterans Affairs in the U.S. will make all their employs get vaccinated or at least be tested regularly.
  • Los Angeles reported 2,089 cases on Sunday.
  • Ontario is calling on Ottawa to allowed mixed vaccines acceptable for those coming in to the country.
  • Peel Public Health says a survey June 1 to July 9 showed all 1,655 of its cases came from people who had not been vaccinated (67%) or only once (31%).
  • 41 per cent of Brits say they’ve put on pounds during the pandemic (more chips than fish?).
  • The Quebec lottery to encourage second vaccines had “technical difficulties” today as it began accepting registrations.
  • Hundreds of Malaysian contract doctors protested today on behalf of reportedly 20,000 fellow physicians who don’t have permanent jobs but are helping with COVID.
  • 153 people accredited to the Tokyo Olympics have tested positive.
  • France is now up to 40 million with at least one vaccine, which represents 60 per cent of the population.

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