44 PER CENT JUMP IN REGIONAL COVID CASES PAST WEEK

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Regional COVID cases last week were up for the first time in 13 weeks — by 44 per cent.

The rise to 23 from 16 may seem slightly negligible with only 7 more people testing positive.

Or it’s a viral sign that summer’s half over — the way the CNE was once the beginning of the end.

Or a portent of fall’s fourth wave?

Either way it has to be worrisome for Dr. Charles Gardner.

Though you’d be confused reading and hearing from Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s (SMDHU) medical officer of health.

This morning Gardner issued a release that read: “As of (yesterday) July 26, the total per cent of Simcoe Muskoka population vaccinated with their first dose was 68.3 per cent and among those with their second dose it was 53.5 per cent. At the same time the weekly number of new COVID-19 cases in our area remains low at 23 cases during the week of July 18.

“These numbers show a trend in the right direction,” it added in quoting him.

“But it will require that everyone continues to practice the public health measures still in place to help prevent any further spread of the virus in our communities, and it will take a very high coverage of full vaccination. Although much of our eligible population has received at least their first dose of vaccine, I encourage anyone who has not yet been fully vaccinated to receive a first and second dose as soon as possible.”

“But it will require that everyone continues to practice the public health measures still in place to help prevent any further spread of the virus in our communities, and it will take a very high coverage of full vaccination. Although much of our eligible population has received at least their first dose of vaccine, I encourage anyone who has not yet been fully vaccinated to receive a first and second dose as soon as possible.”

That was before lunch.

After digesting those publicly available noon numbers, he added this afternoon in briefing the media that COVID could again get worse — before getting better.

But possibly not by Christmas, he said, in response to question about a “normal” yuletide season.

He urged “some caution” should still be needed in six months time.

Later, he added going in to the second week of Step 3, they’re “not good news.”

5 new cases in Simcoe today

With 5 new Simcoe cases today (by SMDHU accounting — 4 according to the province) the region has 31 active cases, which is up from 25 last Tuesday.

Two people are in hospital, one of whom was not vaccinated, but the other was only vaccinated within the past 14 days.

Of the 5 new people who tested positive Tuesday, July 27, 4 were unvaccinated and 1 had been recently vaccinated.

And with 88 per cent of this week’s cases the Delta VOC, they bring to 166 the total number of the most virulent variant.

Gardner said 44,000 vaccines were distributed the past week across the region with 85 per cent of them second doses and 15 per cent to first-timers.

He said that brings to 78 per cent the number of local residents aged 12+ with one dose and 61.5 per cent with two doses.

And while Simcoe-Muskoka lags 5 percentage points behind the province in overall vaccinations at 47.5 per cent compared to 52.8 per cent, he said the region is only about 5 days behind Ontario’s mean.

Close contacts are another concern, as they are showing up more often; though they are in touch with people with people who have been immunized.

Gardner said mass vaccination clinics will be closing by the end of August, leaving vaccines in the hands of pharmacies, primary care, family physicians and pop-up clinics.

This as he said the region’s vaccinations are higher per capita than the province.

A positive sign he said given that Simcoe-Muskoka has averaged about half the number of cases as the province throughout the coronavirus — and a quarter of that seen among health units in the GTA.

Health unit cash flow concerns

Gardner also addressed a report that the health unit is seeking a $5 million line of credit from its municipalities in the event of cash-flow needs.

He said the province has recently responded by offering “50 per cent” of that ($2.5 million) as part of a February budget request.

The rest, he said, will have to come from “other sources,” which he didn’t elaborate on.

On the hot topic of vaccine passports, Gardner called them “prudent” if Ontario’s intent is to keep the economy open.

And “worthy of consideration” as recommended by the province’s science table.

He did say that the latest spike may not be isolated to the recent re-opening step, but could still be fallout from Step 2.

Also, he said while some countries and provinces, like the U.K. and Quebec will now offer a third vaccine for foreign travel, it’s not recommended by national health officials.

And while summer camps are in full swing with some young campers and their families milling about and shopping in towns in Muskoka, he is confident camps are careful and that their health protocols and regular testing will contain any threats to communities.

Though he is “keeping a close eye” out for cases.

So far there are no outbreaks.

TUESDAY: COVID BY THE NUMBERS … 4 CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA  (3 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 129 AND 3 DEATHS (119-3) … TORONTO 37 (22), YORK 6 (8), PEEL 22 (13) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 0 (1) … PORCUPINE 0 (1) …

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

• 12,363 cases to date
• 7 new cases this week, 23 last week, which was 44% higher than the 16 cases the week  before.
• 4 deaths in July, 6 in June
• 4,000 Alpha, 166 Gamma, 34 Beta, 166 Delta
• 674 cases await confirmation of VOC

*As of July 27 all cases reported on or after May 23, which are negative for both the E484K and N501Y mutations are considered presumptive B.1.617.2 (delta) cases and will be included in variant case counts. Previously these were treated as screened negative. This change may result in a shift in several variant-related metrics.

• 748,230+ vaccines have been administered in Simcoe Muskoka
• 413,690+ residents have received their first dose of vaccine, which represents 68% of the population.
• 79% of adults 18+ have had at least one vaccine
• 66% of youth 12 to 17 have also had their first vaccine

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

• Toronto’s 37 cases compares very favourably with Chicago, which has roughly the same population but is fast approaching 200 cases this week that could trigger new restrictions.
• The oft-deferred to U.S. Centers for Disease Control is expected to walk-back early mask guidelines and will now recommend face coverings indoors in struggling states — even around vaccinated Americans. Earlier it gave the all-clear.
• 8,702,111 Ontarian are doubly-vaxxed — or 66.8 per cent of those aged 12+. That works out to 59.1 per cent of the total population, including those eligible for the vaccine.
• After months of fears about having enough vaccines for all Canadians, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today that the government has taken delivery of all it needs. That’s 66 million doses.
• 9,000 Canada Border Services Agency have voted to strike Aug. 6 three days before U.S. visitors are allowed in. The workers have been working without a contract for three years and Public Service Alliance of Canada talks have broken down with the federal Treasury Board.
• Tokyo reported 2,848 new COVID-19 cases, exceeding the earlier record of 2,520 cases set on Jan. 7.
• The U.K. is easing quarantine restrictions on essential workers as it struggles with staff shortages hobbling some sectors.
• The EU’s 27 countries have achieved a 70 per cent first vaccine rate.

Email news@muskokatoday.com

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