6 MUSKOKA COVID CASES TODAY AS RAPID TESTS ON SANTA’S WISH LIST

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — A daily drop in COVID cases today may be significant or insignificant.

Depends on whose numbers you’re counting — as we’ve often reported in the past.

The health unit said cases fell to 86 from 106; Public Health Ontario said the drop was just a few to 103.

Confused? So are we.

Somewhere in there 6 more Muskokans tested positive yesterday.

Four more in Georgian Bay, where cases are on the rise after being relatively low for months; and two in Huntsville, which this fall has been a hot spot.

They were:

  1. Georgian Bay girl, 0-17, under investigation, reported Dec. 8, first episode Dec. 6
  2. Georgian Bay boy, 0-17, under investigation, reported Dec. 8, first episode Dec. 7
  3. Georgian Bay man, 18-34, close contact, reported Dec. 8, first episode Nov. 29
  4. Georgian Bay man, 65-79, community acquired, reported Dec. 8, first episode Dec. 6
  5. Huntsville woman, 65-79, under investigation, reported Dec. 8, first episode Dec. 7
  6. Huntsville woman, 45-64, travel related, reported Dec. 7, first episode Dec. 2

* Huntsville case removed to another health unit Dec. 8

Numbers aside, the province is being pushed to provide more rapid tests for workers in addition to students who are being provided them before the holiday break to use before return to classes in January.

Ontario’s science advisory table recommended today all workplaces — including schools — institute voluntary rapid tests as a first line of defence against COVID.

Premier Doug Ford defended his government’s rollout, claiming 57 per cent of all rapid tests have been done in Ontario — more than all other provinces combined.

Norah Fountain, of the Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce, says they alone have given out more than 27,000 test kits to local businesses. Other Muskoka chambers are also participating in the giveaways.

This as Simcoe-Muskoka cases are soaring faster than Santa’s sleigh.

It’s been a seven-week climb in one of Ontario’s hot spots where the advisory table says the tests should be concentrated in the run-up to Christmas.

With fully vaccinated resident numbers now starting to catch up to unvaccinated cases (25 to 38) the emphasis is now on kids and booster shots.

In addition to Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) clinics and GP offices are also offering both vaccines daily; or at walk-ins a couple of times a week in pharmacies.

So no excuse.

As well, on Thursday, the health unit reports 32 in hospital and 2 more overnight — numbers that on average have been fairly consistent if slightly above for months.

There are 710 active cases with 107 people having recovered the past day.

Meanwhile, as Dr. Charles Gardner, SMDHU MOH, considers local capacity restrictions, three other health units have did so today: Huron Perth, Middlesex-London and Southwestern.

THURSDAY: COVID BY THE P.H.0. NUMBERS: … 103 CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA (106 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 1,290 AND 9 DEATHS (1,009-8) … TORONTO 206 (124), YORK 66 (50), PEEL 71 (48) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 9 (4) … PORCUPINE 0 (0) …

Rotarian Jim Goodwin dug out his Coldest Night of the Year toque for today’s tailgate social at Gull Lake Rotary Park in Gravenhurst. This year’s Coldest Nigh walk is Feb. 26.
Barb McCabe watches as Norm Rippon keeps warm with a great beaver cap and double-double.
It’s a good thing Pam McDivitt had Timbits (but no Timbiebs), because the marshmallows were frozen — though they did thaw out in the tasty hot chocolate.
President Valerie Johnson had fun but couldn’t convince her warm and nattily festive attired dog Tully to play with a perfect snowball, the basis for her lost attempt at building a snowperson on back of her cool white convertible.
What’s a party without a few Christmas carols by Mark Clairmont – including ‘Frosty the Snowman.’

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 16,409 cases to date
  • 286 cases this week
  • 588 last week, 18% higher than the 500 cases the week before
  • From Dec. 22 there have been 1,264 confirmed COVID cases among those vaccinated
  • 0 deaths in December, 14 in November and 5 each in October and 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.
  • 3,066 Delta cases
  • 7 suspected Omicron VOCs
  • 975,885 vaccines have been administered
  • 479,166 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.
  • 28% of children 5 to 11 have received at least vaccine
  • Most cases are in 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)

Vaccinated cases are catching up to unvaccinated cases 25 to 38 today as is expected moreso in the coming week.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • “Please, sir, I want some more ….” Dickens’ Oliver Twist may not be the only one left wanting “Food, glorious food.” At least a cheaper bowl of gruel. The Canadian Food Price report today claims the cost of Hungry Man dinners will go up in 2022 by an average of $966 (for a family of four) to $14,767. That’s a 7 per cent increase. So shop early, often and wisely. And don’t let Mr. Bumble bite you.
  • Quebec reports 1,807 cases, but Health Minister Christian Dube says “don’t panic.”
  • The Toronto Star says most school boards can’t or won’t say how many unvaccinated workers are walking school hallways with students and fellow teachers and support staff.
  • Denmark has moved students in grades up to 10 into virtual classrooms the final weeks of 2021.
  • In the U.S. teens 16 and 17 will be getting booster shots six months after No. 2.
  • Also in America the number of unemployment insurance seekers was at a 52-year low last week. Those 184,000 are the fewest since 1969. The four-week running average now is 219,000. That’s 2 million people as of Nov. 27.
  • New Brunswick suspends unvaccinated doctors
  • Nova Scotia dealing with 59 cases related to St. Francis Xavier university graduation, most who were fully vaccinated.
  • Saskatchewan is moving to alleviate surgical backlog by privatizing some procedures (it hasn’t said which ones) to create a three-month maximum time limit — by 2030. There are 35,000 people waiting now.
  • Raptors and Indiana Pacers cancelled practices today. All of Toronto’s NBA players are fully vaccinated, the club says.
  • Promising pandemic pills may be the beginning of a COVID protocol that could lead to a simple nasal spray as a combatant, according to the Journal of Medical Chemistry.
  • Canadian TV’s Dr. Isaac Bogoch says the world’s immune system will have to change as global residents adapt to ever-changing variants like Omicron.

EMAIL: [email protected]

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