4 OMICRON CASES IN MUSKOKA AMONG 26 REGION-WIDE TODAY
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Omicron’s here. It’s “very hazardous” and it’s going to get worse “in the weeks ahead.”
That’s the blunt message from Dr. Charles Gardner today as he reported 26 cases of the new variant in the region — including 4 “very likely” in Muskoka.
That has hospitals “very concerned” about capacity and being able to keep up with the new “surge,” due a loss of staff from “burnout and fatigue’ caused by hospitals being asked to cope with cases now and in 2022.
Schools are also bracing for a possible extended break. Toronto District School Board suggests kids take home personal school belongings if they want them in case they don’t return to class in the new year after this Friday’s annual end of year departure.
One thing they will take home is a rapid test kit — 11 million are being distributed by the province, which has others scrambling for a public supply for adults.
And while 11 per cent of residents 12+ have had their third shots, as of Monday all Ontarians 18+ can book a booster shot by calling 1-833-943-3900.
In addition LCBOs (which are cutting prices by 10 per cent for bars and restaurants) will start handing out the free rapid antigen test, said Premier Doug Ford this afternoon as he threw around all manner of clichés, in a “call to arms” with “all hands on deck.”
And saying “we’re going on wartime footing” against a “new enemy.”
“Team Ontario” can do it with “the best defence a lightning fast offence.”
Wednesday’s cases are among 106 — including the latest 6 in Muskoka.
Gardner, the medical officer of health for Simcoe-Muskoka, said this afternoon “it’s a very unhealthy time … like starting over again” over 22 months ago.
He called Omicron a “major setback.”
Because the new dominant variant has the “potential for a very large wave,” unless the province acts first, he is prepared to enact limitations that would restrict social gathering of no more than 10 people starting next Monday five days before Christmas.
With no date for ending them, he told media in a briefing.
That’s in part because areas like Georgian Bay are exploding with 600 cases per 100,000 population per week. Overall Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) reports a per 100,000 rate of 93 cases.
But for the eighth week the region tops Ontario, which has seen a 36 per cent increase in per 100,000 cases now at 61 per over 44 per last week.
Wednesday’s 6 reported Muskoka cases all under investigation are:
- Georgian Bay woman, 45-64, reported Dec. 13, first episode Dec. 12
- Georgian Bay woman, 45-64, reported Dec. 13, first episode Dec. 12
- Huntsville woman, 45-64, reported Dec. 13, first episode Dec. 12
- Muskoka Lakes boy, 0-17, reported Dec. 13, first episode Dec. 11
- Muskoka Lakes woman, 35-44, reported Dec. 13, first episode Dec. 11
- Gravenhurst man, 45-64, reported Dec. 10, first episode Dec. 9
There was 1 more death in Simcoe and a case from Bracebridge was referred to another health unit.
Gardner said there have been 649 new cases since his last update a week ago, now totalling 16,350.
That’s a slight drop of 7 per cent week-over-week, the first reduction in seven weeks.
Something he “certainly welcomed,” hoping it was in partly due to last week’s letters of instruction he issued to the community urging more vigilance and restricting of behaviours.
He said there are 29 people in hospital, including 5 in ICU the same as last Wednesday. Two of those are Muskoka residents.
Hospitals, which are suffering under their own “heavy burden of care,” he added, “support any (government) actions to curb the spread and hospitalizations.”
Omicron continues to affect young people most heavily, with 23 per cent of cases locally and mostly kids 4 to 11 and young adults 18-34.
As well, outbreaks are another concern with 18 last week, which was the most since the third wave in April when there were 17 one week.
Gardner also suspects there were more last week his health workers couldn’t confirm and declare in private gyms, food services, multi-units, homes, and manufacturing where there has been a “high degree of transmissions,” because staff have been so preoccupied with schools.
He said it’s “really critical” people “restrict contacts to reduce risk.”
Gardner said he recently attended a provincial science table advisory group meeting where they said they will be announcing dire predictions tomorrow or Friday.
They include a “large wave of case, hospitalizations and ICU admissions” because Omicron has a short incubation period.
And the first two vaccines aren’t able to contain breakthrough cases.
Superspreader events don’t help either, he lamented.
Gardner also cautioned against the belief that Omicron is less severe.
He said there is no strong evidence of that.
Early studies among South Africans were with young populations that are as rule less susceptible to the disease. Older populations may suffer more from it.
“Even if it’s less severe people will still be hospitalized.”
To combat that a booster blitz is planned to start Saturday for two weeks at 18 clinics across the region with all available staff redirected to those efforts. That will affect phone services as workers are redeployed.
They also plan to vaccinate 30,000 more kids.
Gardner said last night in his role as new chair of Ontario’s medical officers of health he called on the province to cut large venue capacity by 50 per cent and limit gatherings to 10 people starting Saturday.
One recommendation he made to the province was announced today by Ford — that the time between second and third vaccines will be reduced to three months.
Testing for COVID will also be a big challenge in Ontario as health unit staff resources are stretched.
So what can a person do if they do contract COVID and its Omicron variant?
Gardner said while antivirals that have been identified and have been undergoing the approval process, the best course is to self-isolate and monitor for shortness of breath.
Then if so get to a hospital immediately.
WEDNESDAY: COVID BY THE P.H.0. NUMBERS: … 114 CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA (68 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 1,808 AND 9 DEATHS (1,429-5) … TORONTO 343 (239), YORK 149 (128), PEEL 132 (102) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 5 (2) … PORCUPINE 7 (1) …
HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:
- 16,920 cases to date
- 235 cases this week
- 562 last week, which was 4% lower than the 588 cases the week before
- From Dec. 22 there have been 1,470 confirmed COVID-19 cases among vaccinated individuals
- 3,327 Delta cases
- 996,119 vaccines have been administered
- 480,150 residents have received at least one vaccine, which represents 79% of the total population
- 84% of the population 5+ have had at least one vaccine; including 82% of youth 12 to 17 years of age.
- 32% of children 5 to 11 years of age have received at least one vaccine
IN OTHER COVID NEWS …
- Quebec reports 2,386 cases.
- Ottawa has returned to a call to end non-essential international travel.
- The U.K. recorded 78,610 new infections on Wednesday, 16% higher than the previous record set in January.
- WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says while Omicron is reported in 77 countries, it’s likely in every nation.
- U.S. Amtrak rail workers who are unvaccinated can still work, but must be regularly tested.
- German police raids netted weapons said to be planned to kill a state official by opponents to vaccinations and restrictions.
- Canadian Armed Forces members opposed to vaccinations had their first day federal court today.
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