18 CASES IN SIMCOE, AS ONTARIO WARNS FAKE VACCINE EXEMPTIONS POSSIBLE

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Forget the political divide across the country, the real divide is in vaccines.

It’s pitting Canadian friends, neighbours and families.

And the threat has Ontario worried about fake vaccine exemption print-outs, which come as the province will require some public certification proof a week tomorrow; and it has Alberta doctors are calling for the unvaccinated to be restricted from indoor public spaces.

This as 18 COVID cases in Simcoe today don’t include anyone from Muskoka.

Ontario’s Health Minister Christine Elliott admitted “fraud is a possibility” when the province requires government photo-ID and a copy of your second vaccination to go public at bars and restaurants and some other public spaces.

She told media this afternoon that written exemptions from a doctor or nurse practitioner could easily be faked to get into a bar or restaurant by using phoney letterhead.

Locally Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is reporting 900 Delta variants of concern now.

But only 2 people who tested positive for the coronavirus since yesterday were fully vaccinated prior. And only 1 was partially vaccinated (or hadn’t passed through the two-week period after their second shot.)

But 15 people who were unvaccinated tested positive since yesterday.

See more figures below.

The news comes as the health unit has several vaccination clinics this week in Muskoka, including this evening at the Gravenhurst High School.

There was a steady stream of people getting their first and second shots of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.

Maylin Cruz and her son Eric, 13, of Bracebridge, got their second shots and wanted to make sure they got a print out proof, as she hopes to maybe return to Cuba for a visit this fall.

Vaccine clinics this week:

  • Tuesday: Gravenhurst High School, 325 Mary St. South Gravenhurst, 4-7 p.m.
  • Wednesday: Gravenhurst farmers market, 861 Bay St., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Friday: Huntsville High School, 58 Brunel Rd., 4-7 p.m.
  • Saturday: Port Carling Foodland, 10 Bruce Wilson Dr., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Saturday: MacTier Memorial Community Centre, 9 Haig St., 1-4 p.m.

TUESDAY: COVID BY THE NUMBERS … 18 CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA  (16 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 577 AND 7 DEATHS (600-6) … TORONTO 116 (114), YORK 46 (67), PEEL 67 (84) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 0 (4) … PORCUPINE 0 (0) …

Eric Cruz, 13, and his mom Maylin, of Bracebridge, got their second shots at GHS this afternoon from paramedic Jody Armstrong.
Shaelyn Cameron-Pelegrini waits 15 minutes after getting her first jab for her job at the YMCA.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 13,219 cases to date
  • 26 cases this week; 194 last week, which was 4% lower than the 203 cases the week before
  • From December 22nd, 2020 onwards, there have been 188 confirmed COVID-19 cases among vaccinated individuals.
  • 4,007 Alpha variants of concern, 168 Gamma, 34 Beta, 900 Delta
  • 661 cases await confirmation of VOC
  • 856,035 vaccine have been administered
  • 442,270 residents have received one vaccine, which is 73% of the population
  • 83% of those 12+ have had vaccine
  • 81% of youth 12 to 17 have also received one vaccine

SMDHU reports 900 Delta variants now.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • Toronto investing 23 schools with possible COVID “activity.”
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin is isolating after cases in his inner circle.
  • Alberta admits it opened too soon prompting its fourth wave. Dr. Deena Hinshaw the province’s top doctor says opening in July was wrong.
  • Artur Pawlowski, an Alberta pastor, claimed at his sentencing hearing that he and his co-accused brother are “political prisoners of conscience.” They were arrested in May charged with conducting and promoting services without health protections.
  • Ironically, two Calgary companies will be helping develop vaccines. Providence Therapeutics and Northern RNA signed contracts worth $90 million and $15 million respectively.
  • All schools in Yellowknife have been closed by the Northwest Territories’ top doctor. They will remain that way until at least Sept. 24 after opening two weeks ago. NWT has had 523 cases since early August.
  • Quebec reports 633 cases, Nova Scotia 66 and New Brunswick 35.
  • Singer Michael Buble cancels Austin, Tex., show after organizers refused his request for more stringent vaccine protocols.
  • Australia’s capital Canberra is going under a second month of lockdown.

EMAIL: news@muskokatoday.com

28 years of ‘Local Online Journalism’

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