Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — A week to watch begins with 5 new Muskoka COVID cases among 99 the health unit is reporting since Friday’s lockdown announcement. Dr. Charles Gardner is chief among those looking at what the numbers mean and where they’re headed. The medical officer of health for Simcoe-Muskoka, who has come […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Four vaccination clinics are now open across the region — with 225 people booked in to the Active Living Centre in Huntsville today. And a waiting list, as the province reports 39 local cases this morning. While most welcome the injection sites, not everyone is happy about the number […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Public, political and business attacks on the medical officer — that even got personal — led him today to provide his “rationale” for recommending a local lockdown tomorrow. Dr. Charles Gardner went on Facebook this afternoon to respond to more than “100” email complaints he has received by phone […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Cases may be down to just 20 Sunday, reports the province, but a rise in variants is behind tomorrow’s return to stay-at-home orders says the health unit. Simcoe-Muskoka has the “highest number of variants of concern (VOCs) in Ontario.” The province reported 1,062 cases (20 deaths) — down from […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — A day after and two days before: Simcoe-Muskoka sees 35 more cases of COVID. That’s one more than the 34 the health unit reported Friday. And no one’s happy about that. Meanwhile, Monday’s return to “Grey-Lockdown” status has local residents on edge. Yesterday’s provincial “emergency brake” caught many off-guard. […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA LAKES — With a return to lockdown Monday, local businesses are calling for a balanced Ontario budget. They mean one that keeps both their interests and the public’s at heart. No grey area here for them Yesterday, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) — with input from the Muskoka Lakes […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com TORONTO — The province has taken the advice of Dr. Charles Gardner and Simcoe-Muskoka is returning to the grey-lockdown zone this Monday, March 1. That’s the same highly restrictive zone the region recently emerged from. The province announced the “emergency brake” late this afternoon, Friday Feb. 26. The order didn’t say […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com GRAVENHURST — Four Muskoka men have been fined of $3,200 for illegal moose hunting in 2019 — including a Gravenhurst hunter who received a 15-year suspension. Conservation officers and police found them on Crown land in the south-east area of the town. The hunters had a cow moose and officers found […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — After four days of cases, Muskoka finished the week with no reports of COVID-19, while Simcoe saw 34 positive tests. The province reported 25 for the region this morning. That’s 169 this week, according to local public health officials. And while residents are already reporting on social media they’ve […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Vaccine bookings have begun with people reporting on social media they already have appointments for early next week. Simcoe-Muskoka is among health units that yesterday allowed residents to go online or call by phone to get injected in Bracebridge and Huntsville. Those 85 and older — along with Indigenous […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com ORILLIA — Two local women who paid “fines” with gift cards and Bitcoin are among five bizarre fraud cases OPP are investigating this month. Then there’s person who got hired to “work from home” and the first assignment was to transfer funds utilizing a crypto-currency platform. How about a Kijiji scam […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE MUSKOKA — If you were born three years before the Second World War, you are among those who can now get in line for a COVID vaccination next week. Two of the 13 clinics will open in: Bracebridge at the Sportsplex Huntsville at the Active Living Centre. Times and dates to […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — At least three dozen new COVID cases today include 4 more from Muskoka. The health unit reports 36 cases (province says 44) bringing their total to 6,362 with 522 active cases. Among them are: Bracebridge man, 35-44, under investigation first reported Feb. 24 and first episode Feb. 23 Muskoka […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com TORONTO — Parry Sound and Muskoka were once part of the same health unit. Now it’s up to its MPP to speak up for the riding on two separate fronts after separation sent one half of residents north, the other half south. This morning in the provincial legislature Norman Miller urged […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — A Gravenhurst man who contracted the COVID virus the past few days through travel is the only Muskoka resident to test positive in today’s local public health reporting. Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) reports 42 other cases in Simcoe. The Gravenhurst man, who is between the ages of […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — A two-year joint investigation between the province and the district has led to 9 charges against a water works worker who has been fired. The District of Muskoka began investigating March 2019 in to the “conduct of an employee,” says a release today. They say the employee was immediately […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — The province has announced the ages and dates when you can get a vaccination. General (Ret.) Rick Hillier, chair of Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force, explained the roll-out this morning on booking an appointment online and by phone. The local health unit will announce its own details tomorrow […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com SIMCOE-MUSKOKA — Rising variant cases — including 9 now in Muskoka — are creating “worrisome” trend that could lead to a return to lockdown in Simcoe-Muskoka. Dr. Charles Gardner said this afternoon that he is “seriously thinking” of recommending a return to stay-at-home orders to provincial health officials who have the […]
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com MUSKOKA — You’ll know by Thursday where two Muskoka vaccinations clinics will open next week for those aged 85 and older. They are part of a dozen sites local public health is setting up Monday, March 1, to inoculate residents and high-risk workers. Medical officer of health Dr. Charles Gardner said […]
TORONTO — MPP Norman Miller’s Private Member’s Bill, Bill 228, Keeping Polystyrene Out of Ontario’s Lakes and Rivers Act, 2020 will be debated later this afternoon in the Ontario legislature. It should begin at 5 p.m. or shortly thereafter. To watch it live go to https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/video