Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — The end of the month may be the latest beginning of the end for COVID.

At least the province thinks so as it moves toward loosening its grip on business by allowing them to welcome back up to half their in-house customer base.

This as confirmed local cases dropped to 245 from 374 yesterday.

But 3 more people were reported to have died since reporting yesterday.

And hospitalizations rose to 42 — with 14 more overnight.

The health unit says there are 89 people with COVID in hospitals — 7 of them in Muskoka’s two hospitals.

There are currently 91 active COVID-19 outbreaks in Simcoe-Muskoka, with no active outbreaks in local schools.

However, LTCs and retirement homes continue to see major outbreaks of  322 as of Thursday.

And 2 more deaths in Muskoka overnight bringing the total to 16:

• Male 80+, Muskoka, outbreak-related, DoD=Jan 19
• Male 80+, Muskoka, outbreak-related, DoD=Jan 19
• Female 80+, Simcoe, outbreak-related, DoD=Jan 18

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health reports these “active” Muskoka cases today:

• Muskoka Shores, Gravenhurst, 95 residents, 20 staff, outbreak Jan. 7
• Muskoka Landing, Huntsville, 22-6, Jan 2
• James Street Place, Bracebridge, 5-5, Jan. 14
• The Pines, Bracebridge, 18-20, Dec. 31
• Castle Peak, Bracebridge, 5-5, Jan. 3
• The Manor, Gravenhurst, 5-5, Jan. 6
• Fairvern, Huntsville, 5-5, Jan. 7

There are currently 45 active outbreaks in institutional settings and 34 in congregate settings, which is similar to 46 and 36 (respectively) from one week ago.

THURSDAY: CONFIRMED COVID CAESS: … 351 CASES IN SIMCOE-MUSKOKA (374 YESTERDAY) … ONTARIO 7,657 AND 75 (5,744-59) … TORONTO 1,373 (949), YORK 643 (390), PEEL 1,006 (914) … NORTH BAY-PARRY SOUND 34 (44) … PORCUPINE 41 (36) … KINGSTON 59 (43) … HALTON 391 (436) …

HEALTH UNIT HIGHLIGHTS:

• 29,485 confirmed cases to date
• 1,106 cases this week
• 2,565 cases last week, 17% lower than the 3,087 cases the week before
• From Dec. 22 there have been 9,857 confirmed cases among vaccinated individuals
• 19 deaths in January, 10 in December
• From July 18 to Jan. 19 the rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations among the unvaccinated vaccine-eligible Simcoe Muskoka population is 10 times higher than it is for fully vaccinated population, the rate of COVID-19 ICU admissions is 18 times higher and the rate of deaths is 9 times higher.
• 274 Omicron cases; 1,674 cases await confirmation of variant
• 1,205,505 vaccines have been administered
• 490,677 residents have received at least one vaccine, which represents 81% of the total population
• 85% of the population 5+ have had at least one dose of vaccine; including 82% of youth 12 to 17
• 43% of children 5 to 11 years of age have received at least one dose of vaccine

IN OTHER COVID NEWS …

• Ontario’s announcement today that it is opening more doors Jan. 31 will last three weeks with ½ capacity limits in restaurants, gyms and theatres. Large sporting venues will only be allowed up to 500 spectators (or half capacity). The new rules will last three weeks till Feb. 21 when the government hopes hospitalizations are down. Premier Doug Ford said today by March 14 all restrictions could be lifted.
• Ontario reports 4,601 people in hospital with 594 in ICU; 55 per cent of hospitalizations were COVID-related and 45 per cent admitted for other reasons.
• Quebec reports 6,528 cases with 3,411 in hospital and 285 in ICU.

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