GRAVENHURST WOMAN AMONG TWO DOZEN COVID CASES FRIDAY

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — As Ontario plans to release details next week on booster shots, the local health unit reports 24 cases — including a woman in Gravenhurst.

The Muskoka woman, 18-34, is under investigation after reporting yesterday with a first episode the day before.

She is among 82 cases far this week — in counting Sunday to Friday. Saturday’s numbers will add to the weekly total, which last week was 122.

However cases have gone up most of the week.

This as a new Forum poll shows 70 per cent of parents want their kids to be vaccinated — while 20 per are still unsure.

And as the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit topped 10,000 unvaccinated COVID cases Friday.

On Thursday there were 9,999 people who tested positive, but who weren’t vaccinated after they became eligible.

Today there were 18 more unvaccinated cases, 5 who were fully vaccinated and 1 partially vaccinated.

Local vaccination rates are creeping up to 76.2 per cent with one vaccine and 72.7 who are fully vaccinated.

There have been 13,994 people in total who have come down with COVID since the pandemic began.

Fifteen cases were resolved, 9 are in hospital (1 new overnight) and there are 174 active cases of the pandemic virus.

Meanwhile, Canada’s economy grew 0.4 per cent in August led by accommodations and food services.

Quebec reports 511 cases and 1 death — with 250 in hospital.

FRIDAY: COVID BY THE P.H.0. NUMBERS: … 26 CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA (21 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 419 AND 0 DEATHS (409-3) … TORONTO 63 (54), YORK 30 (25), PEEL 32 (45) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 1 (2) … PORCUPINE 2 (0) …

The Baptist Church in Gravenhurst is once again pooling its resources to shell out Sunday night with a one-stop ‘Trunk or Treat’ shopping experience for kids from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 13,994 cases to date
  • 82 cases this week; 122 last week, which was 10% higher than the 111 cases reported for the week of Oct. 10.
  • From Dec. 22 there have been 393 confirmed COVID-19 cases among vaccinated individuals.
  • 3 deaths in October, 5 in September
  • From Aug. 29 to Oct. 23 the rate of COVID-19 infection among the unvaccinated vaccine-eligible Simcoe Muskoka population is 10 times higher than it is for fully vaccinated population and the rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations is 19 times higher.
  • 4,007 Alpha variants of concern, 169 Gamma, 34 Beta, 1,570 Delta
  • 663 cases await confirmation of variety
  • 907,101 vaccines have been administered
  • 460,799 residents have received at least one vaccine, which represents 76% of the total population
  • 87% of those 12+ have had at least one vaccine
  • 86% of youth 12 to 17 have also received at least one vaccine

Simcoe-Muskoka topped 10,000 unvaccinated cases today since the vaccine became available.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • Today is the deadline for Canadian federal workers to provide attestation papers on their vaccination status. So far 240,000 of 268,000 have done so. But their unions still have questions.
  • Canadian Mounties to deploy RCMP reservists to fill vacancies caused by workers reluctant to get vaccine and who will be put on paid leave.
  • New York state won’t require a negative COVID test from Canadians entering the U.S. by land or air when its border opens Nov. 8. And they want Canada to wave its 72-hour pre-requirement.
  • Monday New York City faces a shortage of garbage, police and fire workers after today’s deadline to be vaccinated.
  • Florida now has the lowest number of average daily cases in the U.S. at 8 per 100,000.
  • Russian deaths continue to climb. The past 24 hours 1,163 people died of COVID.

EMAIL: news@muskokatoday.com

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