FORD CALLED OUT FOR SNOWMOBILING AT COTTAGE DURING PROTESTS; DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Doug Ford declared a state of emergency today.

For Muskoka’s most famous cottager it might as well have been about political damage control, after the publicly AWOL premier was spotted snowmobiling here Saturday as anti-vaxx protests rocked the province and country.

Today in a firm, but politically calculated, message to protesters in Windsor and Ottawa, he said he was moving “… to urgently enact orders that will make crystal clear it is illegal and punishable to block and impede the movement of goods, people and services along critical infrastructure. This will include protecting international border crossings, 400-series highways, airports, ports, bridges and railways.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called his announcement “responsible,” but didn’t offer anything new on how the federal government plans to force an end to the protests.

He said he Ottawa is a “a long way” from calling in the military. “It’s nothing we’re seriously considering.”

Both told protesters “they’ve been heard … and it’s time to go home.”

Ford was called out after social media photos emerged of him posing for photos on a snowmobile trail.

He admitted early this afternoon, in making the announcement, that he was at his Port Sydney cottage and out snowmobiling, but said he has been working “24/7” and “around the clock” to resolve the ‘Freedom Convoy’ occupation and border block.

Trudeau said he spoke to U.S. President Joe Biden this morning and that the two leaders are determined to keep one of the world’s largest trade portals open.

This as Simcoe-Muskoka reported 175 confirmed cases today.

And its 383rd death, a woman 80+ from Simcoe, who died in he community Feb 7.

The health unit also reports 37 people in hospital, with 2 admitted overnight. Ten of them are in ICU.

GO-VAXX bus in MacTier Saturday

Local GO-VAXX mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinics are once again accepting walk-ins for first, second, third and booster doses for adults and youth ages 12 and up, as well as the paediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11.

The bus will be in MacTier Saturday Feb. 12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Community Centre, 9 Haig St.

GO-VAXX buses are fully functioning vaccine clinics with the necessary supplies and trained staff to provide vaccines safely. Each bus can administer up to 300 doses of the vaccine a day.

Appointments for GO-VAXX mobile clinics can also be booked online through the COVID-19 vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.

When attending a clinic, individuals are encouraged to dress for the weather as they may be required to wait outdoors before entering the clinic. They are also reminded to bring a health card, a list of any medications they are taking, wear a loose-fitting shirt that allows easy access to the upper arm and bring any assistive devices as needed (e.g., scooter, wheelchair, cane).

For more information about how to prepare for an appointment and what to expect upon arrival at the clinic, please visit our COVID-19 pages at www.smdhu.org.

FRIDAY: PHO CONFIRMED COVID CASES: … 134 IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA (181 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 2,907 AND 52 DEATHS (3,201-44); 1,829 IN HOSPITAL (1,897); 435 IN ICU (445) … TORONTO 380 (555) … YORK 161 (163) … PEEL 192 (275) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 38 (47) …

Photos of Premier Doug Ford geting a hug from an obvious fan Saturday on a snowmobile trail near his cottage in Port Sydney went viral today after he was called out by a CTV reporter.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 33,402 confirmed cases to date
  • 500 cases this week
  • 950 last week, 30% lower than the 1,364 cases the week before
  • 21 deaths in February, 71 in January
  • From July 18th to February 9th, the rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations among the unvaccinated vaccine-eligible Simcoe Muskoka population is 6 times higher than it is for those who have received at least two vaccine doses, the rate of COVID-19 ICU admissions is 10 times higher and the rate of deaths is 3 times higher.
  • A video developed by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit helps to explain the number of vaccinated vs. not-fully vaccinated patients in hospital from COVID-19: A Visualization of Ontario Hospitalization and ICU Admissions Due to COVID-19.
  • 1,259,100 vaccines have been administered to date
  • 495,618 residents have received at least one vaccine, which represents 82% of the total population
  • 86% of the population 5+ have had at least one vaccine, including 82% of youth 12 to 17
  • 49% of children 5 to 11 years of age have received at least one dose of vaccine
Friday’s reported hospitalizations included 37, with 2 overnight and 10 in ICU.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • Quebec reports 39 deaths and 2,214 in hospital. They also say 2,662 positive tests have been confirmed — plus 560 people have uploaded positive rapid tests on to the government’s website.
  • Paris deployed 7,000 police at tollbooths and roads to prevent French residents from driving in to the city core to protest restrictions.
  • Manitoba is the latest to announce it is lifting some restrictions, including ending a public mask mandate mid-March. Next week the province will do away with capacity limits.

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