Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Sunshine greeted local students today as schools finally reopened a day late — but with some fanfare.

High schoolers in Gravenhurst got to see a ‘Welcome Back Gryphons’ electronic billboard on their way into classes — even if it was meant for yesterday’s snow day.

Teachers, staff and students were masked and ready to go again.

This as the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) reported 319 cases Tuesday — after 247 yesterday.

That brings this week’s running total to 525 since Sunday.

Of today’s cases 179 were fully vaccinated, 59 unvaccinated and 7 partially vaccinated.

And since Monday 8 new hospitalizations have occurred, bring the number in hospital to 31 — including 7 in ICU.

Across Ontario a record 4,183 hospital admissions are being reported with 580 in ICU — a number that appears to be “decelerating” says Anthony Dale, CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association.

The provincial positivity rate is now at 24.5 per cent.

With 4 more deaths in Simcoe County, the SMDHU yesterday there are 302 in the region in total, including 8 from Muskoka since the pandemic began.

Cases to date have reached 28,883 — with 9,308 of them still active.

Kids 5-11 can now walk in for vaccines

Meanwhile, first and second paediatric vaccine doses for children aged five to 11 years are now available by walk-in at health unit community vaccination clinics in Simcoe and Muskoka.

That after weeks of difficulty for some families looking to get their kids booked in — even for their first shot.

So far 43% of children 5 to 11 years of age have received at least one dose of vaccine.

The health unit says parents and guardians who prefer to schedule an appointment may continue do so through the COVID-19 vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.

And in keeping with provincial guidance that is informed by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), children aged five to 11 years are recommended to receive the paediatric Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Two doses of the vaccine are recommended with eight weeks between the first and second doses as these results in a stronger and more robust immune response.

Anyone who has a scheduled vaccination appointment and is unable to attend because they received their dose in another setting or has become ill, is kindly asked to cancel their appointment by logging into the COVID-19 Vaccination Portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.

To support parents and caregivers in making make an informed choice, information about the vaccine is available on the health unit’s website, including how and where to get the vaccine, answers to frequently asked questions, and resources about making vaccination a positive experience.

GHS students were welcomed back today in Gravenhurst with a flury of virtual

fireworks on their return to classes after a second year’s extended Christmas break.

TUESDAY: CONFIRMED COVID CAESS: … 285 CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA (416 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 7,086 AND 37 DEATHS (8,521-22) … TORONTO 1,628 (1,742), YORK 545 (791), PEEL 1,106 (1,302) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 27 (34) … PORCUPINE 43 (8) … KINGSTON 33 (39) … HALTON 418 (439) …

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

• 28,883 confirmed cases to date
• 525 cases this week
• 2,549 new cases reported to the health unit last week, 17% lower than the 3,080 cases reported for the week of January 2.
• From December 22 there have been 9,500 confirmed cases among vaccinated individuals.
• 1,193,711 vaccines have been administered
• 489,926 residents have received at least one dose of vaccine, which represents 81% of the total population
• 85% of the population 5+ years and older living in Simcoe Muskoka have had at least one dose of vaccine; including 82% of youth 12 to 17 years of age

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

• Americans looking for free test kits can now go online and will be mailed them by the end of the month within 7-12 by the U.S. mail service. And those who buy them can get reimbursed.
• West Jet and Air Canada have cancelled more flights. The former by 20 per cent and the latter by 15 and 11 per cent each in March and February.
• 2,000 hamsters will be euthanized after a Hong Kong pet shop owner and customers came down with COVID. As well, small animals will also be banned from import. Officials aren’t clear on whether the infections were spread by pet importation, however they are acting as a precaution.
• Australia had its worst day for deaths at 74, including 1,152 who were hospitalized in the Victoria state where 127 were in intensive care and 43 on ventilators.
• Some Ontario restaurants hit hard by pandemic rules that limit or take away indoor dining, have pivoted to selling take-out beer and wine to augment slow business. It’s a grey area that has the province looking in to it, reports the Toronto Star.
• Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says recently posted on Facebook: “Five white-tailed deer samples collected from southwestern Ontario in November have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. These are the first cases reported in free-ranging Ontario wildlife. SARS-CoV-2, has previously been detected in wild white-tailed deer in northeastern US, Quebec, and Saskatchewan.”

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