SIMCOE-MUSKOKA’S CASES TRIPLE, BUT DEATHS, HOSPITALIZATIONS DOWN TODAY

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA —  Deaths and hospitalizations were down, ICU admissions remained the same, but confirmed COVID cases more than tripled today in the region.

Simcoe-Muskoka’s COVID roller coaster continued Tuesday with 7 deaths (down 1), 45 in hospital (down 3), 11 in ICU and 124 positive cases (up from 45 yesterday), according to the health unit.

All of the deaths were in Simcoe and just 1 of them was in an outbreak, the others were among community members:

  1. Male, 45-64, Simcoe, community, DOD – Jan. 10
  2. Male, 65-79, Simcoe, community, DOD – Jan. 7
  3. Female, 45-64, Simcoe, community, DOD – Jan. 13
  4. Male, 65-79, Simcoe, community, DOD – Jan. 16
  5. Male 65-79, Simcoe, outbreak, DOD – Feb. 5
  6. Male, 80+, Simcoe, community, DOD – Feb. 5
  7. Male 80+, Simcoe, community, DOD – Feb. 7

They are among 378 to die since the pandemic began in February 2020.

So far in February,16 local residents have died, following 71 who succumbed last month.

Sixteen of the past 20 deaths have been in seniors 65 years of age and over.

And more than 40% of deaths were never hospitalized. This is due to the disproportionately large impact of COVID-19 mortality on long-term care and retirement home residents who passed away without being hospitalized.

As well, more than 3% of cases have been hospitalized and 1% of COVID-19 cases have passed away — with 80% of those hospitalized recovering. This excludes cases currently in hospital.

The median age of those admitted to hospital since September is 67 years, which is 12 years older than the median age of those admitted from May to August. The median age of those admitted to the ICU since September is 63 years, which is seven years older than the median age of those admitted to the ICU from May to August.

For waves 3 and 4 of the pandemic (Feb. 14 to Dec. 11) approximately 4% of all cases required hospitalization, including approximately 1% who were admitted to the ICU. Since the onset of Omicron (wave 5 starting Dec. 12, 2021), approximately 1% of reported cases have required hospitalization and only 0.1% of those cases required admission to the ICU.

The number of active ICU admissions in the month of April 2021 was the highest since the start of the pandemic (21). Active ICU admissions have remained below 10 since mid-May.

Bracebridge hospital outbreak over

Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) says Feb. 8 that in consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) it has declared a COVID-19 outbreak over at the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital (SMMH).

The outbreak, originally declared Jan. 26, and was lifted Feb. 7. It included four patients and two staff.

MAHC says the east wing at SMMH is under enhanced surveillance for COVID-19 and patients on this unit are being monitored for symptoms of COVID-19.

At this time there are no restrictions for designated care partners who are visiting their loved ones on east wing while under the enhanced surveillance.

As usual they advise adherence to mask-wearing and good hand hygiene are paramount.

On Monday MAHC said an outbreak at its Huntsville hospital has also ended.

TUESDAY: PHO CONFIRMED COVID CASES: … 70 IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA (89 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 22,092 AND 42 DEATHS (2,088-11); 2,254 IN HOSPITAL (2,055), 474 (486) IN ICU … TORONTO 328 (370) … YORK 130 (137) … PEEL 198 (147) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 20 (25) …

Steve Thompson, a driver for Fresh Start Foods, said: “It’s winter …,” So business is always slow. But he added the produce business is picking up slowly since Ontario began re-opening last week. He was on his way back south, this morning, after starting from home at 5:15 a.m., before picking up his truck in Milton and dead-heading it due north to Huntsville to begin his retail food drop-offs. That was followed next by Bracebridge, then here in Gravenhurst and with three final stops in Orillia.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 32,898 confirmed cases to date
  • 117 new cases this week
  • 945 last week, 30% lower than the 1,354 cases the week before
  • From July 18 to Feb. 7 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.
  • 1,255,335 vaccines have been administered
  • 495,301 residents have received at least one vaccine, which represents 82% of the total population
  • 86% of the population 5+ have also had at least one dose of 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
Tuesday’s hospitalizations include 45 residents and among them 11 are in ICU.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • “Stop” the spread of COVID. China has locked down another city. In Baise all traffic lights have been locked on red to urge people to stay home.
  • Hong Kong has returned to tougher restrictions limiting even private gatherings to no more than two families.
  • New Zealand had its own convoy protest as its parliament opened with the prime minister refusing to meeting protesters.
  • Alberta and Saskatchewan are freeing up citizens from restrictions and PEI plans a 3-stage re-opening as Ontario tried last year.
  • While Washington recommends masks in school, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and Oregon don’t agree. And next week California will no longer require masks indoors.
  • Two years in to the pandemic 397.8 million people have contracted COVID, with 5.7 million of them dying.

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