Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKKOA — With 1,031 Ontario cases today (106 regionally) — and an Omicron variant in York — 8 more cases in Muskoka may pale by comparison.

But as reported yesterday by MuskokaTODAY.com, by Christmas those numbers are on track to more than double.

Especially with Omicron being more transmissible than Delta.

However, it’s unknown if the newest VOC will be more severe.

The case in York is a child under age 12.

Muskoka’s cases include 2 girls in Bracebridge under age 18:

1. Bracebridge girl, 0-17, under investigation, reported Dec. 2, first episode Dec. 1
2. Bracebridge girl, 0-17, under investigation, reported Dec. 2, first episode Dec. 1
3. Georgian Bay man, 65-79, under investigation, reported Dec. 2, first episode Dec. 1
4. Gravenhurst woman, 45-64, under investigation, reported Dec. 2, first episode Dec. 1
5. Huntsville man, 18-34, under investigation, reported Dec. 2, first episode Dec. 1
6. Huntsville woman, 35-44, outbreak, reported Dec. 2, first episode Dec. 1
7. Huntsville woman, 45-64, under investigation, reported Dec. 2, first episode Dec. 1
8. Muskoka Lakes woman, 35-44, under investigation, reported Dec. 2, first episode Dec. 1

Huntsville’s closed Spruce Glen elementary school also has 2 more active cases reported today on top of 24 yesterday. There are also 13 at V.K. Greer in Utterson, which is not closed.

Across Simcoe-Muskoka, 67 of Friday’s cases were among the unvaccinated, 47 were fully vaccinated and 3 partially vaccinated.

Presently there are 705 active cases, with 30 in hospital today, 2 of them overnight.

This as Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization is “strongly” advising — as Ontario has done — that booster shots be approved for those 50+ who are most likely to benefit by avoiding hospitalization.

It also “recommends” Canadians 18-49 get the third shot.

Omicron is now in four provinces, including Quebec, which reported 1,355 cases and 2 deaths. Ontario had 4 deaths.

And a Manitoba mom and her 3-year-old daughter in the Prairie Mountain region health unit went in for flu shots and got adult-dose vaccines. Officials say any risk to them is low.

Canada has agreed to buy 1 million oral antiviral pills from Pfizer and 500,000 from Merck.

Statistics Canada says 154,000 jobs were created in November, bringing the unemployment rate down to 6 per cent from 6.7 per cent in October.

Greek pensioners risk ¼ of their pensions if they’re not vaccinated.

Germany says about 1 per cent of its population of 84 million residents are infected with the virus. That’s 925,000 people. Yesterday alone they had 74,352 cases and 390 deaths.

Hard-hit B.C. had 368 cases Thursday.

FRIDAY: COVID BY THE P.H.0. NUMBERS: … 106 CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA (75 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 1,031 AND 4 DEATHS (959-8) … TORONTO 133 (118), YORK 56 (53), PEEL 60 (75) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 6 (3) … PORCUPINE 3 (0) …

HEALTH UNIT HIGHTLIGHTS:

• 15,920 cases to date
• 386 cases this week
• 500 cases last week, which was 21% higher than the 414 cases reported for the week of Nov, 14.
• From Dec. 22, 2020, there have been 1,080 confirmed COVID-19 cases among vaccinated residents
• 14 deaths in November, 5 each previous two months
• From October 3rd to November 27th, the rate of COVID-19 infection among the unvaccinated vaccine-eligible Simcoe Muskoka population is seven 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, 2,671 Delta
• 953,912 vaccines have been administered
• 473,575 residents have received at least one vaccine, which represents 77% of the total population
• 88% of the population 12+ have had at least one vaccine, including 85% of youth 12 to 17
• 17% of children 5 to 11 years of age have received at least one dose of vaccine.
• Most COVID-19 cases in Simcoe Muskoka are from the Barrie and South Simcoe areas. Click here to view the epidemic curve by municipality
• Young adults (18-34 years) had the highest rates of infection from February to August; however, since September, children under the age of 12 have had the highest rate of new cases
• The vast majority of COVID-19 cases in Simcoe Muskoka are considered resolved (see Technical Notes and Definitions page for more details)

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

• Patrons of Toronto’s Piccolo Café E Vino, at 111 John St., are told to get tested for possible Omicron exposure this week.
• Booze — and pot — sales that have kept pace with COVID cases has the LCBO urging holiday happy seekers to shop early to avoid shortages of egg nog boosters.
• The U.S., which has President Joe Biden talking tough with reluctant Republicans, says foreigners flying in to America must produce negative vaccine tests within 24 hours of takeoff starting Monday. Biden says those across the aisle from Democrats are threatening to hold up pandemic payouts that could shut down some government services and workers without mandated vaccine concessions.
• New Zealand has come out of a 100-day lockdown, but require vaccine passports at all non-essential businesses and facilities.

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