NO NEW CASES IN REGION MONDAY HUGE STEPPING STONE

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — And then there was none.

Today the province and health unit report no new COVID cases in the region as Ontario prepares to move to Step 3 of its recovery Friday.

Lest we get ahead of ourselves, it’s not the first time since the virus emerged in Simcoe last March 11 and in Muskoka March 25 that we’ve been virus free — but it’s a huge step in the right direction.

A milestone for sure. But we don’t want to raise any false hopes that it’s the last of the virus we’ll see.

We’ve had our hopes dashed many times before.

For the record, there was a case Friday in Gravenhurst of a young woman 18-34 who is under investigation after a first episode Wednesday last. And one in Innisfil Saturday, too, aged 45-64.

Cases nos. 12,317 and 12,317 on July 9 and 10.

Could they one day be the answer to a trivia question about the region’s last cases?

And the last death (no. 254), also in Simcoe, over the weekend?

Clearly no cases Sunday is a significant signs again that vaccines are working.

By its accounting, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) has vaccinated 402,317 people once and 248,318 twice. That’s as of Monday.

Provincewide it’s looking much the same with 114 cases being the fewest since September’s first day more than months ago.

More importantly there were no deaths reported in Ontario.

Toronto, with 10 cases, was the only heath unit to post double digits after 28 the day before, according to Public Health Ontario.

York had 4 (8), Peel 9 (18), North Bay-Parry Sound 2 (2) and Porcupine 1 (1).

Quebec is reporting 57 cases today, Manitoba 31 and 1 death. Nova Scotia 1 case. New Brunswick none.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 12,318 vaccines to date
  • 0 new cases reported to the health unit since Sunday. There were 20 cases last week, which was, 46% lower than the 37 cases the week beginning June 27. And that was he lowest since August 2020.
  • 3 deaths in July, 6 in June
  • 3,998 Alpha variants, 164 Gamma, 33 Beta, 79 Delta
  • 675 additional cases await confirmation of VOC
  • 655,250+ vaccines have been administered in Simcoe Muskoka
  • 402,300+ residents have received their first vaccine, which represents 67% of the population.
  • 77% of adults 18+ have had at least one vaccine
  • 61% of youth 12-17 have had one shot
Other than 1 new death in Simcoe and no COVID cases in the region today these numbers look good today.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • England may have lost the Euro Cup, but the hangover will be lifted next Monday along with all restrictions, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed. This still despite rising cases.
  • Retirements could be a post-pandemic fallout according to an RBC report.
  • And there’s growing talk of four-day work weeks also emerging — though it could easily be argued that’s already happening working from home.
  • Another report calculates Canadians have saved $170 billion the past 18 months that could flood the common markets in the coming years.
  • WHO calls on Pfizer and Moderna to ramp up vaccine supplies for struggling countries.
  • Canada is donating 17.7 million AstraZeneca vaccines it bought.
  • Alberta is bucking the trend toward vaccine passports being led by Manitoba now and Quebec in September.
  • Masks, hygiene and common sense are the hallmarks of fall for many European nations. This as most health experts agree vaccines aren’t the health measure in the tool belt to contain COVID-19.

 

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