GRAVENHURST, HUNTSVILLE COVID CASES AMONG 102 THIS WEEK IN SIMCOE AND MUSKOKA

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — A young woman and older man in Muskoka are among 25 new regional COVID cases Friday, as weekly cases ended at just under half what they a week ago.

The Gravenhurst man, aged 65-74, had close contact before reporting yesterday, but with a first episode last Saturday, Sept. 11.

A Huntsville woman, 18-34, also had close contact, before reporting Sept. 15 with a first episode Sept. 12.

They are among 240 active cases being reported by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, which says they’ve logged 102 cases since Sunday. That’s down from 203 last week.

And while vaccinations continue to climb ever so slowly (73.6 per cent once, 67.6 twice), it’s the unvaccinated that dominate the story.

There were 22 people yesterday who tested positive without having had a vaccine.

Only 1 person who had been previously vaccinated tested positive; and 2 were partially vaccinated and still got the virus.

Nationwide 75 per cent of Canadians are now vaccinated at least once.

That’s 28.5 million residents.

This as new numbers out today in Ontario show that 860 people have died in hospital since the pandemic took hold, adding context to health statistics that show you’re 37 times more likely to land in hospital if you are not vaccinated.

Ontario has 336 people hospitalized and 115 on ventilators.

Cambodia has begun vaccinating children 6-11.

While masks are recommended but not mandatory in outdoor shopping settings, like the farmers’ market in Gravenhust, as of next Wednesday some indoor venues will require proof of vaccines.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 3,299 cases to date
  • 102 cases this week; 197 last week, which was 3% lower than the 203 cases the week before.
  • From December 22nd, 2020 onwards, there have been 204 confirmed COVID-19 cases among vaccinated individuals.
  • There was one COVID-19 related death reported in August and one COVID-19 related death has been reported in September.
  • From July 18th to September 11th, the rate of COVID-19 infection among the unvaccinated vaccine-eligible Simcoe Muskoka population is 11 times higher than it is for fully vaccinated population and the rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations is 37 times higher.
  • 4,007 Alpha (B.1.1.7) variants of concern, 168 Gamma, 34 Beta, 955 Delta
  • 661 cases await confirmation of VOC
  • 861,805 vaccines have been administered
  • 444,416 residents have received one vaccine, which is 74% of the total population
  • 84% of the population 12+ have had vaccine
  • 81% of youth 12 to 17 have also received at least one vaccine

One more person is hospital and there are 240 active cases.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • B.C.’s crowded hospitals don’t all it to take Alberta’s growing overflow of patients, says Canada’s most western province.
  • Toronto is offering pop-up vaccinations tonight until 1 a.m. in the city’s Gay Village and at a bathhouse until 2 a.m. among other sites in a bid for 314,000 they need to reach 90 per cent fully vaccinated goal.
  • Florida now leads the U.S. states in total deaths at 58,811 — that’s 1 in 400 people. In Mississippi, with well over 2,500 daily cases, they lead that country with 1 in 320 residents who have died.

EMAIL: news@muskokatoday.com

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