2 BRACEBRIDGE CASES … AND IT’S OK TO HUG GRANDKIDS — IF YOU’RE FULLY VAXXED

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — It’s OK for grandparents to give their grandkids a hug, say federal health officials.

But just be careful says the local medical officer of health.

Dr. Charles Gardner says even with most adults and teens vaccinated it’s still possible to spread COVID-19.

But federal health guidelines supersede provincial regulations, he acknowleged.

This as the health unit reported 4 more cases today — half that number each in Simcoe and Muskoka.

The two Bracebridge cases were aged 35 to 44 who had close contact and were reported July 3 with episodes first reported the day before.

Gardner said family reunions this summer are becoming safer with — as of today — 76 per cent of adults 18+ having had their first vaccine and 41 per cent who are double vaxxed.

As well, 59.5 per cent of youth in Simcoe-Muskoka have been jabbed once and 8.7 per cent twice.

That’s more than 604,000 residents in total.

He said 95.5 per cent of people past the age of 80 have had one vaccine and 80 per cent two.

On top of that the positivity rate in the region is down to 0.6 per cent — or as Gardner put it among 100 people that’s less than 1 person testing positive.

He also said summer celebrations of life could exceed current regulations, which allow 25 people to gather outdoors. That’s the same consideration being given now for funerals and for drive-in concerts and movies.

This as local health officials are now having trouble keeping up with the supply of vaccine given them when weeks ago they were demanding more from the province.

And while the current overabundance of supply relative to demand would appear a problem to relish, it’s not one Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s (SMDHU) top doc welcomes.

Gardner wants herd immunity — in other words at least 75 per cent of residents fully vaccinated.

Still, he told media today, he urges caution when unit due to the omnipresent risk of the Delta variant “surging,” which today sees 59 cases regionally.

He added that 80 per cent of recent cases have been of the more infectious and severe form of the Delta variant of concern (VOC) that has also taken a wide hold in the Kitchener Waterloo, Grey Bruce and Porcupine health units.

Even so, he said his health unit is “pulling out all the stops” to get everyone — or as many as possible — vaccinated.

That means mass vaccination clinics are now welcoming “drop-ins” who don’t have appointments — though he recommends them.

As of yesterday youth 12-17 can get appointments.

Priority is also being given as mass clinics — like the permanent ones in Bracebridge and Huntsville — for people who haven’t been injected at all or whose first dose was before May 1.

In addition, if people have health problems or other special needs they can jump the queue the day of the clinic without having to wait in line.

And while one clinic in Innisfil has suspended operations until further notice, Gardner doesn’t foresee any other locations closing short-term or long-term.

However, he added, the daily stand-by list for end-of-day extra doses to be distributed will end this week.

Gardner predicts that by August they will have reached all who want the vaccine — even though he doesn’t see an end to all cases by then.

Two more cases in Bracebridge were reported today by the health unit. The male and female, aged 35-44, had close contact. They bring to 93 the number of COVID cases in the Heart of Muskoka.

Since his last update June 22, he said SMDHU has seen an 8 per cent drop last week at 37 cases from the 40 the week before.

As of Tuesday there were 12,302 cases — including 2 the past 24 hours.

Comparatively, Ontario’s relative decline was 21 per cent.

He said last week was the fourth straight week at below 100 cases locally.

Those are numbers not seen since August last.

For context he said the highest month of cases was 716 in April.

Ten people are still in hospital compared to 14 two weeks ago.

Gardner did note another concern he and other MOHs are watching, increased instances of young males who after their second vaccine have had racing or fluttering hearts.

On the topic of the provincial road map to recovery, he said “personally” he wouldn’t rush to Stage 3 in the next two weeks, even though he understands the business call to open more doors before.

As for school plans, he says some control measures will need to remain in place before and after any re-opening.

Gardner called modelling “unpredictable — like weather forecasts.”

He still sees the potential for the pandemic to stretch in to the fall — even though last year he once foresaw it not coming under control until the arrival of vaccines in 2022.

Gardner said with the rest of the world still experiencing high rates of cases and fewer vaccinations the potential for more mutations of the coronavirus remain real.

He said the pandemic could be “very active for years.”

And while Premier Doug Ford said in Bracebridge last week he’d consider a north-south divide of SMDHU, Gardner said he supports his board’s position that it is serving the residents “well” with “optimal health promotion” and half the provincial COVID rate.

He said he has not spoken to Ford about it.

Muskoka roads are returning to busy pre-pandemic numbers with Stage 2 celebrants and shoppers sharing main streets. But Dr. Charles Gardner still urges caution for various reasons local and international.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 12,302 cases to date
  • 4 new cases this week, 37 last week, which was 8% lower than the 40 cases the week before
  • 6 deaths in June (in Simcoe), 18 in May, 25 in April, 12 in March
  • 3,993+ Alpha cases, 164 Gamma, 32 Beta, 59 Delta
  • 673 cases await confirmation of variant
COVID watchers are watching and treating daily COVID numbers as if they were stock listings.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • Public Health Ontario this morning reported 244 cases today and 9 deaths. Simcoe-Muskoka 2 (5), Toronto had 112 (27 yesterday), York 13 (7), Peel 26 (8), North Bay-Parry Sound 0 (1) and Porcupine 0 (3).
  • Toronto reports 50 per cent of its residents double vaxxed, as attractions like Wonderland in Vaughan enjoying a relatively brisk masked business opening.
  • On Aug. 16 fully-vaccinated Brits will no longer have to isolate 10 days if they’ve come in contact with someone who has tested positive. But youth under age 18 will have to isolate if they test positive.
  • Bangladesh had its highest number of cases today at 11, 525, with 163 deaths. It borders India.
  • Quebec sees 67 cases and no deaths.
  • Russia reports 23,378 cases and 737 deaths.
  • Israel and South Korea are trading 700,000 vaccines. Israel has Pfizer vaccines expiring soon, which South Korea will reciprocate with in September and October.
  • Pfizer is halting its supply to Mexico for two weeks due to supply source renovations at its U.S. manufacturing plant.
  • Brazil extends emergency cash program for poor families for three months to November.

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