33 CASES IN SIMCOE AS GARDNER LAMENTS COVID VACCINCES HERE TO STAY

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Forget three strikes and you’re out.

With booster shots due any day now for several adult and health care groups, keep your short sleeve shirts handy.

In all likelihood — like third and fourth waves — third injections are just the beginning of living life with COVID, laments Dr. Charles Gardner.

“Forever more,” he said, noting this is the beginning of a whole new rollout of vaccines like we’ve just struggle through this spring, summer and fall.

In announcing 33 cases today — all in Simcoe — the region’s medical officer of health noted that 10 were unvaccinated, 11 were fully vaccinated and 3 partially vaccinated.

Nine were under age 12 and not eligible for vaccination.

Also in the past two weeks, since his last media update, there have been 5 more deaths.

Four of them were among fully vaccinated local residents — again all in Simcoe.

There were no new deaths Wednesday. The region’s total deaths are 267.

And that 35 per cent of recent cases have been among those already vaccinated.

A number he expects will rise and that he always knew would happen statistically.

He used the hockey analogy of more helmet use among players inevitably shows that even with head protection the percentages of those who still get concussions remains high.

But he said due to the COVID pathogen of concern expect injections “forever more.”

Booster shots available Nov. 15

This as of Nov. 15 booster shots will be available in the six Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) sub areas.

They will be for people 70+, front-line health care workers, anyone who had two doses of AstraZeneca, First Nations and Métis among several groups, the province announced this afternoon.

Appointment bookings begin today at pharmacies and on the weekend through the provincial website.

This only days before plans for little kids vaccines are revealed by the ministry of health.

Today the U.S. began inoculating 15 million children 5-11, with plans for 28 million kids to get their first vaccine — after being federally approved just late last night.

Gardner said the health unit is investigating a trunk or treat outbreak at the Bayview church in Barrie.

He also expressed concern that after being at half the provincial average rate during the pandemic, Simcoe-Muskoka is “edging up slightly” above that average. Ontario case counts are down 5 per cent.

Notably Simcoe-Muskoka has had a three-week increase. So far this week there are 72 cases.

The past two weeks 278 cases were reported — mostly in south Simcoe.

Among today’s 33 cases: 9 were youth under age 18; they ranged in age from under 10 to in their 60s; 17 were male, 16 females.

Barrie and Innisfil remain the region’s hot beds for cases at 55 cases per 100,000 population and 44 cases per 100,000 populations respectively.

Regionally Simcoe-Muskoka overall is at 21 cases per 100,000 population. Ontario is at 18 per cent per 100,000 populations.

One hundred per cent of cases last week were again the Delta variant.

Among recent outbreaks are two unrelated outbreaks last week in Bracebridge, with 2 each at Monck elementary school and the Pines LTC.

Vaccines remain a real challenge for the SMDHU, especially among young men.

As the province nears the goal of 90 per cent full coverage, local figures now show 87 per cent with a first vaccine and 83 per cent a second.

Gardner fears it will take in to 2022 to achieve the 90 per cent totals.

He said it will take a “couple months” to reach that number with first doses and a “few weeks” more for everyone to be fully vaccinated.

He’s even expressed “uncertainty” of getting there.

Because of booster shots and new kids vaccines, annual vaccine updates have been put on pause.

COVID complacency is real with people “mixing” more, he admitted, adding he hopes business “compliance” with rules continues.

WEDNESDAY: COVID BY THE P.H.0. NUMBERS: … 26 CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA (22 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 378 AND 5 DEATHS (331-7) … TORONTO 54 (42), YORK 41 (48), PEEL 13 (36) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 1 (0) … PORCUPINE 0 (0) …

The pipes were playing this afternoon at a funeral for Gerry Tanner at the Presbyterian Church in Gravenhurst. Among the mourners were members of the Muskoka Discovery Centre, where he was a volunteer.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 14,112 cases to date
  • 72 cases this week; 127 last week, which was 4% higher than the 122 cases the week of Oct. 17.
  • From Dec. 22 there have been 440 confirmed COVID-19 cases among vaccinated residents
  • Five COVID-19 related deaths were reported in each of the previous two months and one death has been reported so far in November.
  • From Sept. 5 to Oct. 30 the rate of COVID-19 infection among the unvaccinated vaccine-eligible Simcoe Muskoka population is 8 times higher than it is for fully vaccinated population and the rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations is 13 times higher.
  • 4,008 Alpha variants of concern, 169 Gamma, 34 Beta, 1,668 Delta
  • 909,963 vaccines have been administered
  • 461,678 residents have received at least one vaccine, which represents 76% of the total population

87% of the population 12+ had at least one vaccine

87% of youth 12 to 17 have also received at least one vaccine

Today more of the COVID cases were among vaccinated residents than unvaccinated.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

Quebec reports 525 cases and 8 deaths — both increases.

Alberta has 415 cases and 8 deaths; B.C. 406 cases and 5 deaths.

Russia reports today 7,938 deaths.

Pittsburgh super star Sidney Crosby is out of the Penguins line-up with mile COVID symptoms after only starting the season last week following a wrist injury. He and defensive team-mate Brian Dumoulin are the 7th and 8th Pens to test positive since September’s training camp began.

Meanwhile, the reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, too, is out of the Green Bay Packers line-up as quarterback for the same reason.

An Owen Sound doctor who was suspended by the provincial medical governing body was selling exemptions online. Dr. Rochagne Kilan was the first physician being probed for irregularities by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, which wants the courts to make 4 others comply with their related investigations.

England’s assistant medical officer worries complacency is playing a part in increases in the United Kingdom country.

In the Philippines millions of vaccines are going unused due to hesitancy and logistical challenges.

African countries fear a rise in AIDS and HIV cases in years to come as resources are shared across countries to combat rising COVID tolls.

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