BARRIE, ONT. The Simcoe Muskoka health unit reports 58 new COVID-19 cases across the region and one new variant case, for a total of 91 on Thursday. The health unit lists 60 more possible variant cases but are awaiting test results for confirmation. According to a new report, more than five per cent of positive COVID-19 cases collected in January in a major Ontario study tested positive for highly infectious coronavirus variants of concern. Of the 1,880 positive samples from Jan. 20 that were analyzed, 103, or 5.5 per cent were confirmed or highly likely to be either the UK B.1.1.7 or South African B.1.353 variants of concern.
BARRIE, ONT. Simcoe Muskoka s health unit reports the number of COVID-19 variant cases has nearly doubled Wednesday, increasing to 90 diagnoses, with an additional 57 possible cases. Health officials noted the variant requires two tests to detect - those 57 people have so far screened positive and are waiting on results from a second test to confirm. The new coronavirus strain has been identified at a Barrie, Ont., long-term care home devastated by an outbreak that has claimed 66 lives. More than 230 residents and staff at Roberta Place have been diagnosed since the outbreak was declared on Jan. 8. On Tuesday, the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care in Penetanguishene, Ont., said that one individual was positive for a particular mutation indicating a high probability that this individual has a variant strain of concern of COVID-19.
PENETANGUISHENE, ONT. The COVID-19 outbreak has claimed another patient s life at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care in Penetanguishene, bringing the total number of patient deaths to four. Eight patients and eight staff members have also tested positive for COVID-19 after an outbreak was declared at the centre s Horizon Program for Geriatric Psychiatry. It s extremely stressful for all staff, especially the unit that has the outbreak, said Local OPSEU president Pete Sheehan on Tuesday. Staff members who work in the affected unit are now isolating, either at home if they live alone or at housing provided by Waypoint, which includes the Super 8 motel in Midland.
BARRIE, ONT. A COVID-19 outbreak at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health has claimed three lives and infected 10 patients and eight staff members. The Penetanguishene hospital reports three of its Horizon Program for Geriatric Psychiatry patients died amid the outbreak. On Monday, spokesperson for Waypoint, Kristi Lalonde, stated that, Managing the outbreak on the Horizon Program is our top priority right now, and we have all the necessary precautions in place. The Simcoe Muskoka health unit declared the outbreak in the Horizon unit on Jan. 22. This isn t the first outbreak at the hospital. On Jan. 9, the health unit declared an outbreak in its Awenda A and B units on Jan. 9. It has since ended.