LAKE OF BAYS WOMAN AMONG 24 COVID CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA TUESDAY

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Two dozen regional COVID cases today included an elderly Lake of Bays woman.

The 80+ resident is under investigation after testing positive yesterday — the same day she had her first episode.

A dozen of Tuesday’s positive cases were unvaccinated, 8 were fully vaccinated and 3 partially vaccinated, says the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.

Meanwhile, minimum wage workers in Ontario who endured job losses during the pandemic can look forward to a pay hike Jan. 1 to $15 an hour.

That’s 65 cents more than they make now (at $14.35).

Based on a 40-hour full-time work week (if you can find that job) that amounts to $600 a week.

And if employed 52 weeks a year that makes the annual salary $31,200.

As an example, by comparison, the Living Wage Hamilton group says $17.20 is the minimum rate folks in that city should earn to account for the cost of living — or $35,776 per year based on a 40-hour work week.

What’s the poverty level or living wage in your community? Let us know at [email protected]

TUESDAY: COVID BY THE P.H.0. NUMBERS: … 22 CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA (25 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 331 AND 7 DEATHS (422-3) … TORONTO 42 (61), YORK 44 (41), PEEL 36 (47) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 0 (1) … PORCUPINE 0 (0) …

With the high price of gas driving up inflation, final work on new gas tanks at the CTC gas bar at James Street and Muskoka Road are nearing completion.

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 14,082 cases to date
  • 42 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 430 confirmed COVID-19 cases among vaccinated residents
  • 5 COVID-19 related death 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, 1,620 Delta
  • 909,077 vaccines have been administered
  • 461,409 residents have received at least one dose of vaccine, which represents 76% of the total population
  • 87% of the population 12+ have had at least one vaccine
  • 87% of youth 12 to 17 have also received at least one vaccine

Half today’s COVID cases were unvaccinated.

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

  • The NACI recommends Canadian seniors 70+ and anyone who received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine receives a booster shot.
  • Quebec reports 490 cases and 6 deaths, along with 250 in hospital.
  • Mayor John Tory tweeted today that 84 per cent of Torontonians are fully vaccinated.
  • Dr. Anthony Fauci warns that the U.S. faces a COVID Christmas that’s a “mixed bag” ahead as 64 million Americans remain unvaccinated fully. And that many of those parents will strongly resist the start of vaccinations for kids this week.
  • Pfizer’s Q3 profits are proving higher than expected with an estimated $31 billion in sales this year.

 

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