35 COVID CASES SATURDAY IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA, AS EMERGENCY ORDERS TO END

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSOKA — Monday schools will open.

The following Monday more businesses will be able to open.

That’s part of the province’s plan to be announced Monday by Premier Doug Ford as Ontario’s COVID case numbers dipped again Saturday.

According to Public Health Ontario (PHO) today, 1,388 people still tested positive and 45 more people died.

In Simcoe-Muskoka today, PHO reported 35 cases (with no breakdown between the north and decimated south).

And late Friday, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH), in consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, declared another COVID-19 outbreak on the cancer palliative unit, with two patients testing positive.

That brings the total number of units currently in outbreak to three. All those units are closed to new admissions.

Quebec is reporting 1,204 cases and 27 deaths, which brings their fatality total to 9,999.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

On the eve of tomorrow’s Super Bowl 55 in Tampa Bay, the NFL says it is opening its other stadium doors as vaccine centres. The Bucs are hosting the Kansas Chiefs — with limited seating — for global virtual audience that has health experts and politicians calling on football fans to gather alone online or at home.

Ontario is expected to announce its re-opening plan Monday, which will end emergency orders on Tuesday Feb. 9 the day after schools return to indoor classes. The following Monday, Feb. 15, businesses will be able to offer more services to the public.

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