50 COVID CASES OVER THE WEEKEND INCLUDE 1 MAN IN GRAVENHURST

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Fifty cases reported this weekend — including one in Muskoka — come as the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit ramps up vaccinations clinics on the second-last day of August.

Three of them will take place in Gravenhurst on Thursday.

The Gravenhurst man, aged 65-79, is under investigation as to the cause after being reported Aug. 26 with a first episode the day before.

The 49 other cases all come from Simcoe.

This as vaccine uptake continues at a snail’s pace with just 62.2 per cent of the region’s eligible population 12 and older fully vaccinated; and only 71.6 per cent with even one shot at the end of the summer.

Vaccine clinics this week include:

This Thursday, Sept. 2

  • Kinsmen Park, 1300 Muskoka Rd S, Gravenhurst, 2 – 7 p.m.
  • Gull Lake Rotary Park, 405 Brock St., Gravenhurst, 2 – 7 p.m.
  • Muskoka Wharf, Muskoka Rd. 169, Gravenhurst, 2 – 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 4

  • Bracebridge Farmer’s Market – Memorial Park, Manitoba St., Bracebridge (next to Norwood Theatre), 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Rivermill Park, Dara Howell Way, Huntsville, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Immunizations are also available to residents at the COVID-19 Immunization Centre, 29 Sperling Dr. in Barrie until Sept. 29 through an appointment or walk-in.

COVID-19 vaccinations are available to individuals who are turning 12 years of age in 2021 (born in 2009) and older and needing their first or second dose. Second doses must be at least 21 days after a first dose of Pfizer vaccine, at least 28 days after a first dose of Moderna vaccine, or eight weeks after a first dose of AstraZeneca with informed consent.

Whether at a clinic or out in the community, SMDHU staff providing vaccinations will be wearing blue COVID-19 Vaccine t-shirts and their SMDHU employee badge for identification.

Residents and visitors aged 12 years and older are encouraged to add getting their COVID-19 vaccines to their summer to do list — before the start of the school year and the arrival of cooler fall weather brings people indoors.

When attending a clinic, individuals are encouraged to dress for the weather as they may be required to wait outdoors before entering the clinic. They are also reminded to bring a health card, a list of any medications they are taking, wear a loose-fitting shirt that allows easy access to the upper arm and bring any assistive devices as needed (e.g., scooter, wheelchair, cane).

For more information about how to prepare for an appointment and what to expect upon arrival at the clinic, visit their COVID-19 pages at www.smdhu.org

This as new back to school guidelines from the province has removed some health issues for kids who previously would need to stay home.

They say a runny nose, sore throat or difficulty swallowing, congested nose, headache, and extreme tiredness or muscle aches were removed from the screening tool.

An online screening tool lists five categories of symptoms “most commonly associated with COVID-19.”

Those are fever and chills, cough or barking cough, shortness of breath, losing taste or smell and nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

Children reporting any of those symptoms are to stay home, isolate and seek COVID-19 testing.

Meanwhile, as Ontario get to work this week on a vaccine passport, Manitoba says its vaccine cards and QR digital bar codes are now available to people even if they don’t have a provincial health card.

MONDAY: COVID BY THE NUMBERS … 16 CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA  (15 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 694 AND 0 DEATHS (740-2) … TORONTO 121 (141), YORK 98 (63), PEEL 104 (63) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 1 (0) …  PORCUPINE 3 (0) …

Kids are enjoying the final full week of summer holidays before classes resume a week Thursday, on Sept. 9.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 12,809 cases to date
  • 16 this week starting yesterday. There were 145 new cases last week, up 14% from 127 cases the week before
  • From Dec. 22 there have been 110 confirmed COVID-19 cases among vaccinated individuals (more below).
  • 1 death in August, 6 in July, 4 in June
  • 4,008 Alpha variants, 167 Gamma, 34 Beta, 525 Delta VOCs
  • 662 cases have screened positive awaiting confirmation of variant.
  • 835,302 vaccines have been administered
  • 432,825 residents have received at least one vaccine (72% of population)
  • 81.5% of population 12 years and older have had one vaccine
  • 77% of youth 12 to 17 have also had one vaccine

At the end of summer just 62.2 per cent of Simcoe-Muskoka’s eligible population is fully vaccinated.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • U.S. Centers for Disease Control issues warning to Americans about travelling to Canada due to rising case levels.
  • Israel reports booster shots have halted Delta cases.
  • The average number of people in hospital in the U.S. is now 100,000.
  • EU puts United States back on its tourism unsafe list as cases going up.
  • U.K. study finds kids admitted to hospital with serious inflammatory conditions recovered and were without major lingering symptoms a year later.
  • Today Nova Scotia reports 31 cases and Newfoundland and Labrador 9.
  • Ontario’s top court has certified a class-action lawsuit against 14 insurance companies that denied business interruption claims related to COVID-19.
  • “Mr. Anti-Vaxx,” a Daytona Beach conservative radio host has died. Marc Bernier passed away Saturday three weeks after contracting the coronavirus He was 65.
  • Athens and another Greek city saw anti-vaccination protests Sunday. In Athens 3,000 people protested and a breakaway group of 200 at night clashed with police tossing incendiary devices. COVID cases have soared in recent weeks.
  • Delta Airlines (which refuses to use the term Delta variant) will charge unvaccinated workers $200 per month as a health cost as of Sept. 12.

 

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