26 MUSKOKA COVID CASES AMONG 106 IN REGION, AS OMICRON ‘PROBABLY LIKELY’ IN SIMCOE

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — More than two dozen Muskoka COVID cases Tuesday shows the variance of the variants.

Yesterday the health unit reported 4 cases.

Today’s cases are among 106 across the region — including 7 “highly suggestive” of being the new “concerning” Omicron variant of concern (VOC).

Dr. Charles Gardner said this afternoon that while the cluster in Simcoe County is confirmed as COVID, it won’t be for a week or more before the variant is identified as latest VOC.

However, the medical officer of health for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) says they are working fast to contain its further spread.

If that is possible.

He said the local cases are among 31 now in Ontario.

The 23 latest Muskoka cases include 5 each in Gravenhurst and Bracebridge and 6 each in Huntsville and Georgian Bay — and 1 in Lake of Bays.

None are Omicron cases so far.

They range in all ages and are all under investigation:

  1. Bracebridge girl, 0-17, reported Dec. 7, first episode Dec. 6
  2. Bracebridge boy, 0-17, reported Dec. 7, first episode Dec. 6
  3. Bracebridge man, 18-34, reported Dec. 7, first episode Dec. 6
  4. Bracebridge man, 18-34, reported Dec. 7, first episode Dec. 6
  5. Bracebridge man, 45-64, reported Dec. 7, first episode Dec. 6
  6. Georgian Bay girl, 0-17, reported Dec. 7, first episode Dec. 6
  7. Georgian Bay boy, 0-17, reported Dec. 7, first episode Dec. 6
  8. Georgian Bay boy, 0-17, reported Dec. 7, first episode Dec. 6
  9. Georgian Bay woman, 18-34, reported Dec. 7, first episode Dec. 6
  10. Georgian Bay woman, 18-34, reported Dec. 7, first episode Dec. 6
  11. Georgian Bay woman, 18-34, reported Dec. 7, first episode Dec. 6
  12. Gravenhurst woman, 35-44, reported Dec. 7, first episode Dec. 6
  13. Huntsville man, 35-44, reported Dec. 7, first episode Dec. 6
  14. Huntsville woman, 45-64, reported Dec. 7, first episode Dec. 6
  15. Huntsville man, 65-79, reported Dec. 7, first episode Dec. 6
  16. Huntsville woman, 80+, reported Dec. 7, first episode Dec. 6
  17. Huntsville man, 80+, reported Dec. 7, first episode Nov. 26
  18. Huntsville man, 80+, reported Dec. 7, first episode Dec. 6
  19. Georgian Bay man, 18-34, reported Dec. 6, first episode Dec. 6
  20. Huntsville man, 45-64, reported Dec. 6, first episode Dec 4
  21. Huntsville man 45-64, reported Dec. 6, first episode Dec. 4
  22. Lake of Bays woman, 65-79, reported Dec. 7, first episode Dec. 6
  23. Gravenhurst man, 18-34, reported Dec. 4, first episode Dec. 2
  24. Gravenhurst man, 18-34, reported Dec. 4, first episode Dec. 2
  25. Gravenhurst woman, 45-64, reported Dec. 4, first episode Dec. 2
  26. Gravenhurst man, 45-64, reported Dec. 4, first episode Dec. 2

Gardner said Simcoe cases linked to travel from Nigeria late last month are self-isolating at present — but aren’t under hospital care.

He didn’t have at his hands details on whether they had been vaccinated before travelling to Canada, but said his staff would have that information on their history.

And as per privacy policy he didn’t identify the location of the cases.

He said the latest numbers show that with 16,350 cases that’s an increase of 639 over his last report Wednesday, Dec. 1.

For last week there were 586 cases, which was 17 per cent higher than the 499 the week before.

There are 30 in hospital (3 from Muskoka) and 5 in ICU.

The MOH said this has him “seriously potentially contemplating” more local restrictions.

However, he said his reluctance to error on the side of caution in doing so now when with the region running at rate “much higher” than most of the GTA, is that more people are now vaccinated compared say to a year ago.

He said there is a “cost” to returning to restrictions with more capacity limits.

That being the price to business and consumer lifestyle.

But he hasn’t ruled it out as he consults further with provincial health officials on the distinct possibility.

That could include much lower gathering limits, possibly reducing them in personal settings to 10 from 25 at present.

They would come in another of his ‘Letters of instruction (LOI) orders,” like a pair he released last week to business and municipal governments.

Only this next one would be more constrictive.

Regardless, the MOH definitely wants everyone to gather in smaller numbers now and in to the new year until health officials learn how seriously transmissive and severe Omicron is.

That’s his “standard advice.”

Gardner added said the 39 fully vaccinated breakthrough cases today are to be expected as more people are vaccinated. There were 65 unvaccinated cases and 2 partially vaccinated.

Those unvaccinated at 6.5 times more likely to die of COVID.

He said of 25 deaths since July when vaccines became available, all were over age 35.

Ten of those who died age 35-64 were unvaccinated and 15 who died over 65 were unvaccinated.

Gardner also said local health officials “applaud” the government’s “wise” move to continue the use of QR code requirements past the Jan. 17 plan to phase them out.

On school rapid antigen testing he said SMDHU is working to provide students home-test kits over the holidays that would indicate COVID in 15 minutes, but which would still require a real test at a provincial testing clinic.

WEDNESDAY: COVID BY THE P.H.0. NUMBERS: … 82 CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA (68 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 1,009 AND 8 DEATHS (928-9)… TORONTO 124 (163), YORK 50 (84), PEEL 48 (48) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 4 (1) … PORCUPINE 0 (0) …

It’s going to be a long winter back to front outdoors and indoors digging out as COVID cases continue to rise along now with Omicron in the region and also expected to spread.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 16,350 cases to date
  • 230 this week
  • 586 last week, which was 17% higher than the 499 cases reported for the week of Nov. 21.
  • From Dec. 22 there have been 1,243 confirmed COVID-19 cases among vaccinated individuals
  • 14 deaths in November, 5 each in September and October
  • 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.
  • 2,982 Delta cases
  • 972,245 vaccines have been administered
  • 478,358 residents have received at least one vaccine, which represents 79% of the total population
  • 88% of those 12+ have had at least one vaccine; including 85% of youth 12 to 17 years of age
  • 27% of children 5 to 11 have also received at least one vaccine
  • Most COVID-19 cases in Simcoe Muskoka are from the Barrie and South Simcoe areas. Click here to view the epidemic curve by municipality.
  • Young adults (18-34 years) had the highest rates of infection from February to August; however, since September, children under the age of 12 have had the highest rate of new cases.
  • The vast majority of COVID-19 cases in Simcoe Muskoka are considered resolved (see Technical Notes and Definitions page for more details).

The health unit report 106 cases today in Simcoe-Muskoka including 7 ‘”possibly likely” the Omicron VOC.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • Pfizer says initial lab studies show its booster shot neutralizes Omicron.
  • Ontario says there are 219 active elementary schools outbreaks.
  • A 64-year-old Newfoundland and Labrador resident has been charged after allegedly threatening the province’s Health Minister John Haggie at his home over mask rules after police got a call at 6:15 p.m. There were 5 new cases reported today in NL.
  • Quebec with 1,367 COVID cases (2 deaths) reports 4 with the Omicron variant; the Yukon has 2 among its 44 COVID cases; Saskatchewan reports its first Omicron case.
  • Bank of Canada key interest rate remains at 0.25 per cent.

EMAIL: [email protected]

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