Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Smug Muskokans are in for a lump of coal in their Christmas stocking if they don’t “they-up” and mask-up.

Mostly insulated from the harsh realities of COVID, Omicron could be a wakeup call for district and Simcoe County residents with 106 new cases Friday.

Muskoka accounted for 11 of them: 5 in Georgian Bay, 3 in Huntsville, 2 in Bracebridge, 1 in Gravenhurst.

They are:

1. Bracebridge girl, 0-17, close contact, reported Dec. 9, first episode Dec. 8
2. Bracebridge boy, 0-17, under investigation, reported Dec. 9, first episode Dec. 8
3. Georgian Bay woman, 18-34, under investigation, reported Dec. 9, first episode Dec. 8
4. Georgian Bay woman, 18-34, under investigation, reported Dec. 9, first episode Dec. 8
5. Georgian Bay woman, 45-64, under investigation, reported Dec. 9, first episode Dec. 8
6. Georgian Bay woman, 65-79, under investigation, reported Dec. 9, first episode Dec. 8
7. Georgian Bay man, 65-79, under investigation, reported Dec. 9, first episode Dec. 8
8. Huntsville woman, 18-34, under investigation, reported Dec. 9, first episode Dec. 8
9. Huntsville woman, 35-44, under investigation, reported Dec. 9, first episode Dec. 8
10. Huntsville man, 65-79, under investigation, reported Dec. 9, first episode Dec. 7
11. Gravenhurst woman, 35-44, under investigation, reported Dec. 6, first episode Dec. 2

Simcoe-Muskoka has topped 8,000 variants, with one more death overnight, a woman in Simcoe County 80+ who was part of an outbreak Dec. 8.

This as today Canada’s top doc, Dr. Theresa Tam, says the 3,300 national cases now could explode to 26,000 by mid-January if Omicron overcomes Delta as the dominant strain.

That is if pandemic protocols and precautions aren’t taken more seriously — and everyone doesn’t get at least one, two or three vaccines.

So, if all you want for Christmas is your two front teeth, amend your ask.

While Pfizer and AstraZeneca may be great at halting Delta, new reports say ask Santa for a booster shot this Christmas. Because it will best help you fight Omicron, which is 3X more transmissible.

Ontario’s science table says 5 million residents need boosters the next two weeks — if that’s possible. Yesterday only 78,390 got the shot. You do the math.

So rapid tests are more important than ever.

And as we reported yesterday, Muskoka chambers of commerce have been handing out thousands to local businesses.

Norah Fountain at Muskoka Lakes updated their distribution numbers to 27,000 tests for 121 businesses.

Huntsville’s Kelly Haywood added they’re at 29,300 tests for 261 businesses.

In Gravenhurst they’ve issued 14,275 tests to 153 businesses.

With that in mind, forget fake news, says Dr. Kieran Moore.

Ontario’s chief medical officer is clamping down on phoney vaccine exemptions.

England and NYC are both mandating masks indoors again.

Moore says QR codes will be altered to combat doctors’ ‘exemptions,’ because he says “most aren’t valid.”

If you have one of those exemptions you’ll have to have it verified by a health unit and that notation will go on your QR code that will limit your access to certain businesses like bars and restaurants.

And if your company or employer is still in business and even thinking of a Christmas party — think twice about going. Or at least ask how many are going or if you can Zoom in. And forget about a bonus. Ask for a boost in wages or more sick days like Ottawa is proposing this month for federally-regulated workers.

MPs will be off six weeks for seasonal holiday starting Dec. 17.

FRIDAY: COVID BY THE P.H.0. NUMBERS: … 73 CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA (103 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 1,453 AND 11 DEATHS (1,290-9) … TORONTO 195 (206), YORK 91 (66), PEEL 89 (71) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 11 (9) … PORCUPINE 8 (0) …

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

• 16,513 cases to date
• 390 cases this week (with two more days’ reporting in week)
• 588 cases last week, 18% higher than the 500 cases reported for the week of Nov. 21
• From Dec. 22 there have been 1,300 confirmed COVID-19 cases among vaccinated individuals
• 0 deaths December, 14 November, 5 each October, September
• From Oct. 10 to Dec. 4 the rate of COVID-19 infection among the unvaccinated vaccine-eligible Simcoe Muskoka population is seven times higher than it is for fully vaccinated population and the rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations is 15 times higher
• 3,122 Delta cases
• 979,315 vaccines have been administered
• 480,050 residents have received at least one vaccine, which represents 79% of the total population
• 88% of the population 12+ have had at least one vaccine; including 85% of youth 12 to 17 years of age
• 30% of children 5 to 11 years of age have received at least one dose of vaccine

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

• Quebec reports 2,013 cases (6 deaths), the most in 11 months.
• Ontario report 11,316,876 fully vaccinated; with 78,390 getting a shot yesterday — a number to watch in the coming weeks as more people grasp their importance.
• As of Friday 1,460 Canadians are in hospital, including 450 in ICU. And 20 people die each day on average.
• Worldwide 268.7 million people have had COVID and 5.2 million have died.
• Ontario also reports 85.3 per cent of residents 5+ are vaccinated now toward a 90 per cent goal.
• In the UK where there’s a surge in cases, adults 18+ are now eligible for booster shots.
• Ottawa wants to pass a couple of important bills before Christmas. Bill C-3, which would provide 10 days sick leave for federally-regulated employees, has a good chance of passing. But Bill C-2 to help workers in certain sectors with government aid programs has less chance, reports say.

EMAIL: [email protected]

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