Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Another day, another year, another “record.”

As the calendar turns on a second devastating year, it’s not the end of the pandemic predicted.

Or anywhere near it with Omicron setting daily records.

How bad was 2021?

The health unit reported 715 cases today — including 50 Muskoka.

Last year on Dec. 31 there were 74 cases and 5 in Muskoka — tenfold increases.

And the running total for 2019 was 3,589 — compared to 21,487 today.

In the past 10 days Simcoe-Muskoka has recorded 3,568 cases.

And with 94 per cent of cases now “confirmed or likely” Omicron, there are 4,246 active cases.

Dr. Charles Gardner said today’s case count was the “most ever.”

The Muskoka cases were:

* Note: 1 case in Huntsville was moved to another health unit.

Gardner, medical officer of health for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, says there are now 270 cases per 100,000 population per week in the region — another record day.

Halton leads the province with 483 cases per 100,000 population.

Simcoe-Muskoka, which earlier this month was among the most affected regions, now trails Halton, Kingston, Toronto, Hamilton and Ottawa.

In his media briefing this afternoon (two days later than normal), he said 73 per cent of today’s cases since Dec. 19 were fully vaccinated.

Noting, he said, the importance of booster shots as two vaccines will keep you out of hospital, but not as effective at preventing the new transmission.

He said the effects of Omicron have not fully been felt.

There are 27 in hospital and 8 in ICU — 52 per cent of the latter unvaccinated.

And 6 cases were reported yesterday at the hospital in Bracebridge.

Seven LTCs in Simcoe have outbreaks as the province reports 40 outbreaks among the homes the past day and bring the total number under outbreak to 98.

Along with them, 8 elementary schools and 6 high schools have been affected.

This as 40 per cent of kids 5-11 (17,203) have had their first vaccination, with a second dose eligible eight weeks after their first.

Most of the cases are among those under age 60 who have had two vaccines.

This region’s population has 88 per cent of those 12+ vaccinated once and 85 per cent twice. The goal remains 90 per cent.

Among those 18+ 29 per cent have had booster shots and 64 per cent of residents 70+ have had a third shot.

Most of the cases are among those under age 60 who have had two vaccines, which Gardner said two provides “reasonable prevention” of 60 to 80 per cent.

He said among the region’s population 88 per cent of those 12+ have been vaccinated once and 85 per cent twice. The goal remains 90 per cent.

Among those 18+ 29 per cent have had booster shots and 64 per cent of residents 70+ have had a third shot.

However, he said the positivity rate has risen to 14.5 per cent compared to 6.8 per cent Dec. 22 when he last spoke.

Ontario’s positivity rate overall is more than 20 per cent.

In Simcoe County it’s 17.5 per cent, mainly due to those 18 to 35 whose cases per 100,000 per week are at an alarming 505.

During the Delta wave kids under 12 were most susceptible to COVID, because they weren’t fully vaccinated.

Gardner added that like the rest of the province Simcoe-Muskoka is having trouble keeping pace with testing requirements.

As a result testing at assessment centres will be given to priority to groups most at risk.

As well, only the Moderna vaccine will now be given to those 30+, in part also due to a limited supply of the Pfizer vaccine over the next while.

Gardner emphasized that Moderna is still a good enough vaccine to receive. He said some studies claim it is better than Pfizer with some advantages for older recipients.

He said in all likelihood COVID will be “endemic” and “continue to be dealt with” for years.

FRIDAY: COVID P.H.0. NUMBERS: … 662 CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA (441 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 16,713 (13,807) … TORONTO 3,899 (3,478) YORK 1,391 (1,224), PEEL 1,639 (1,468) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 119 (66) … PORCUPINE 123 (119) … KINGSTON 287 (242) …

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

• 21,487 cases to date
• 2,306 cases this week
• 1,644 last week, which was 93% higher than the 853 cases the before
• From December 22 there have been 4,688 confirmed COVID-19 cases among vaccinated individuals
• 8 deaths in December, 14 in November, 5 each in October and September
• From October 31 to December 25 the rate of COVID-19 infection among the unvaccinated vaccine-eligible Simcoe Muskoka population is four times higher than it is for fully vaccinated population and the rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations is 18 times higher
• 3,626 Delta cases
• 150 Omicron confirmed
• 1,506 cases await confirmation of testing
• 1,102,263 vaccines have been administered
• 485,805 residents have received at least one dose of vaccine, which represents 80% of the total population
• 84% of the population 5+ have had at least one dose of vaccine; including 82% of youth 12 to 17
• 40% of children 5 to 11 have also received at least one dose of vaccine

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

• Alberta joined Ontario, B.C., Manitoba and New Brunswick as provinces reducing isolation to five days from 10 in a bid to prevent staff shortages among health care workers who are increasingly off the job.
• Quebec reports 16,461 cases and 13 deaths as a new 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew goes in to effect along with a ban on private gatherings. It also ordered churches and place of worship to close and schools won’t reopen at least before Jan. 17.
• Manitoba, meanwhile, hit 1,494 cases — its fourth record this week — after 1,123 yesterday. It has 9,924 active cases with 5 new deaths bringing the number of fatalities to 1,392.
• Saskatchewan, too, is at record numbers with 735 new cases, topping 650 in October. There, 2,844 cases are active.
• Nova Scotia reports 618 cases Friday, 429 of them around Halifax.

EMAIL: [email protected]

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