14 MUSKOA CASES OVER WEEKEND, AMONG 211 IN REGION AS ONTARIO HITS 1,536

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — With 211 regional cases over the weekend — 14 in Muskoka — the floodgates are reopen again.

In Canada and around the world COVID is going to get much worse before Christmas, experts say.

And soon you’ll definitely know people who have been expected. You won’t be able to miss them.

Cases have doubled the past two weeks says Dr. Theresa Tam; and Omicron cases could double every three days now and soon becoming dominant as it will be this week in the U.K.

Public Health Ontario says Simcoe-Muskoka had 73 cases yesterday; the health unit only reports 43 Sunday.

Whatever the numbers they’re headed due north.

Muskoka’s cases reported Monday by the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit are:

  1. Bracebridge boy, 0-17, under investigation, reported Dec. 12, first episode Dec. 10
  2. Bracebridge woman, 18-34, under investigation, reported Dec. 12, first episode Dec. 10
  3. Georgian Bay woman, 65-79, under investigation, reported Dec. 12, first episode Dec. 10
  4. Bracebridge man, 18-34, under investigation, reported Dec. 11, first episode Dec. 10
  5. Georgian Bay girl, 0-17, under investigation, reported Dec. 11, first episode Dec. 9
  6. Georgian Bay boy, 0-17, under investigation, reported Dec. 11, first episode Dec. 11
  7. Georgian Bay man, 4-64, under investigation, reported Dec. 11, first episode Dec. 10
  8. Huntsville woman, 18-34, under investigation, reported Dec. 11, first episode Dec. 10
  9. Huntsville woman, 45-64, under investigation, reported Dec. 11, first episode Dec. 10
  10. Muskoka Lakes man, 18-34, under investigation, reported Dec. 11, first episode Dec. 10
  11. Bracebridge woman, 45-64, community acquired, reported Dec. 10, first episode Dec. 6
  12. Gravenhurst woman, 18-34, close contact, reported Dec. 10, first episode Dec. 8
  13. Bracebridge man, 18-34, under investigation, reported Dec. 9, first episode Dec. 9
  14. Georgian Bay boy, 0-17, under investigation, reported Dec. 9, first episode Dec. 7

Local public health reports 7 people admitted to hospitals over the weekend, bring today’s total to 34.

As well 119 of the 211 cases reported today were unvaccinated, 86 were fully vaccinated and 6 partially vaccinated.

There were no new deaths and only 1 in the province.

And with Kingston today issuing a Section 22 order that limits gatherings indoors and out at 5 people, Simcoe-Muskoka could be headed the same direction as Dr. Charles Gardner warned last week.

This as the province’s booster shot registration today for residents 50+ was overwhelmed with booking attempts that temporarily crashed it.

And reports are that next week Ontario will allow all adults 18+ get their third shot six months after being fully vaccinated.

MONDAY: COVID BY THE P.H.0. NUMBERS: … 73 CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA (81 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 1,536 AND 1 DEATH (1,476-8) … TORONTO 255 (226), YORK 139 (73), PEEL 89 (96) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 4 (7) … PORCUPINE 8 (3) …

The Muskoka Concert Band brought a little Christmas cheer to some businesses in north Muskoka this weekend at Dean’s Home Hardware in Port Sydney …
… and at Gangnam Korea in Huntsville where customers were serenaded with carols as they ordered and waited for their pickups.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 16,723 cases to date
  • 42 this week
  • 557 last week, which was 5% lower than the 588 cases the week of Nov. 28
  • From Dec. 22 there have been 1,300 confirmed COVID-19 cases among vaccinated individuals
  • 1 death in December, 14 in November, 5 each in October and September
  • From Oct. 17 to Dec. 11 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 16 times higher.
  • 3,212 Delta cases
  • 985,479 vaccines have been administered
  • 481,908 residents have received at least one vaccine, which represents 80% of the total population
  • 84% of the population 5 years and older have had at least one dose of vaccine, including 86% of youth 12 to 17 years of age.
  • 34% of children 5 to 11 years of age have received at least one dose of vaccine

7 more people were admitted to hospital, but there were no new deaths on the weekend.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • Quebec reports 1,628 cases and 3 deaths.
  • Ontario public service workers expected to have to continue working from home till Feb. 7.
  • Toronto city employees to return to work three days a week and fulltime Jan. 4.
  • Three Calgary Flames games postponed due to team outbreak; and Raptors game Thursday with Chicago postponed as Bulls hit with outbreak.
  • Ghana to fine airlines $3,500 for each person landing in West African country without vaccine passport.

EMAIL: [email protected]

28 years of ‘Local Online Journalism’

Twitter: @muskokatoday, Facebook: mclairmont1

Leave comments at end of story

SUBSCRIBE for $25 by e-transferring to [email protected]

Or go online to https://muskokatoday.com/subscriptions