9 MORE MUSKOKA CASES FRIDAY, BUT 87 OVERALL IN REGION AS KIDS VACCINES ‘DAYS’ AWAY

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Good news about Pfizer vaccines for kids 5 to 11 coming within “days” was countered locally today with fall high of 87 regional COVID cases — including 9 more in Muskoka.

That’s the second day this week with as many in the northern half of the health unit’s reporting district.

Four of them were among children aged up to 17 years old.

Six of them are from Bracebridge and 3 from Huntsville.

This as Dr. Theresa Tam said Friday that kids under 12 are among the highest category of Canadians testing positive.

The Muskoka cases were:

  1. Bracebridge boy, 0-17, under investigation, after reporting Nov. 18 with a first episode Nov. 16
  2. Bracebridge woman, 18-34, under investigation, after reporting Nov. 18 with a first episode Nov. 17
  3. Bracebridge woman, 35-44, under investigation, after reporting Nov. 18 with a first episode Nov. 17
  4. Bracebridge woman, 45-64, close contact, after reporting Nov. 18 with a first episode Nov. 12
  5. Bracebridge man, 45-64, under investigation, after reporting Nov. 18 with a first episode Nov. 16
  6. Bracebridge woman, 65-79, close contact, after reporting Nov. 18 with a first episode Nov. 10
  7. Huntsville girl, 0-17, who is under investigation, after reporting Nov. 18 with a first episode Nov. 17
  8. Huntsville boy, 0-17, whose case is outbreak related, after reporting Nov. 18 with a first episode Nov. 16
  9. Huntsville man, 18-34, under investigation, after reporting Nov. 18 with a first episode Nov. 17

Two more men in Simcoe have also died. Both were 65-79. One died Wednesday and the other Thursday.

All this as finally kids in Simcoe-Muskoka can look forward to getting jabbed ASAP.

How to book kids’ appointments

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) expects that appointments for children will become available on the provincial booking system in the coming week.

They say in a release late Friday afternoon that SMDHU anticipates that the paediatric formulation of the COVID-19 vaccine will be received locally in the coming week and the health until will promptly make it available by appointment only via local community clinics throughout Simcoe Muskoka, pharmacies and some primary care providers.

“We are very pleased to learn of Health Canada’s approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 years of age and the recommendation by NACI,” said Dr. Charles Gardner, SMDHU’s medical officer of health.

“Getting 5-to-11-year-olds vaccinated is safe and the most effective way to protect them from COVID-19. This is the next major step in our efforts, locally and beyond, to protect children and the broader community from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Health Canada and NACI have both noted that preliminary evidence shows the vaccine is 91 per cent effective at preventing COVID-19 in children 5 to 11 years of age and no serious side effects have been identified. The vaccine can also help safeguard against the disruptions to schooling and extra-curricular activities and the social isolation that children have experienced during the pandemic. Therefore, the benefits of this vaccine for children outweigh the risks. Canada has one of the most careful vaccine review systems in the world.

Information for parents and caregivers about the vaccine is available on the health unit’s website, including how and where to get the vaccine, answers to frequently asked questions, and helpful resources about making the vaccination experience a positive one for your child. It will be updated as new information is available.

FRIDAY: COVID BY THE P.H.0. NUMBERS: … 71 CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA (67 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 793 AND 4 DEATHS (711-5) … TORONTO 115 (74), YORK 60 (39), PEEL 54 (40) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 3 (3) … PORCUPINE 3 (3) …

It’s still game on at local rinks including here in Gravenhurst as kids keep their distance best as possible while playing and practising. With children’s vaccines coming next week that’s a goal worth pursuing.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 14,902 cases to date
  • 282 cases this week with one more day of reporting for this week
  • 332 cases last week, which was 33% higher than the 249 cases the week of Oct. 31
  • From December 22nd, 2020 onwards, there have been 680 confirmed COVID-19 cases among vaccinated individuals.
  • Five COVID-19 related death were reported in each of the previous two months and 11 deaths have been reported so far in November
  • From September 19th to November 13th, the rate of COVID-19 infection among the unvaccinated vaccine-eligible Simcoe Muskoka population is 8 times higher than it is for fully vaccinated population and the rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations is 11 times higher.
  • To date 4,008 local cases have tested positive for Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant of concern, 169 cases have tested positive for the Gamma (P.1) variant of concern, 34 cases have tested positive for the Beta (B.1.351) variant of concern, 2,041 cases have tested positive for the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant of concern, and an additional 662 cases have screened positive (awaiting confirmatory testing)
  • In total 926,077 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Simcoe Muskoka, including doses administered by local pharmacies. 464,948 individuals living in Simcoe Muskoka have received at least one dose of vaccine, which represents 77% of the total population
  • Currently 88% of the population 12 years and older living in Simcoe Muskoka have had at least one dose of vaccine including 88% of youth 12 to 17 years of age who have received at least one dose of vaccine

Two more men in Simcoe have died. Both were 65-79 and one died Wednesday and the other Thursday.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • As of Nov. 30 Canadians fully vaccinated, those who are permanent residents and taking trips out of Canada for 72 hours or less, won’t have to have a PCR test to return home by land or air.
  • The Canadian Press reports an informal survey has found 1 million Canadian vaccines have had to be destroyed due to expired dates or other reasons.
  • Netherlands bans New Year’s fireworks again after fireworks injuries were down 70 per cent last year. Fireworks sellers will be compensated for lost sales.
  • Russia recorded a third straight record day of deaths 1,254 virus deaths, up 1,251 on Thursday and 1,247 on Wednesday. The say there are 37,156 new confirmed cases.
  • Germany declares “nationwide state of emergency” due to rise in cases, which topped 50,000 for a third day.
  • Austria, too, is going in to a national lockdown.
  • A Western University student in London was arrested and handcuffed after he returned to campus after being banned. Social media was full of images of the takedown by school security.

 

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