One swimming advisory lifted in Muskoka, three remain mymuskokanow.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mymuskokanow.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
BARRIE, ONT. As the province s vaccine rollout continues to pick up speed, more options for clinics are being made available. Pop-up clinics were held across the Simcoe Muskoka, Grey Bruce and York Region health units, many accepting walk-ins for second doses. It felt great getting my second shot, so I m glad it s done and over with, says Kurt Neiman, a resident of Coldwater, where more than 600 doses were being administered at the Coldwater Arena. The delta variant, which is becoming more and more prevalent in our communities, requires two doses, so we are encouraging everyone to get vaccinated, says Carmine Stumpo, the president and CEO of Orillia Soldier Memorial Hospital.
BARRIE, ONT. A swimming advisory is issued for Couchiching Beach in Orillia Tuesday because of a higher than normal bacteria count. The health unit collects water samples from public beaches every summer between June and September across the region. It tests samples for E.coli bacteria and posts warnings when levels are elevated. Bacteria levels can increase in recreational beach water due to heavy rainfall, cloudy water, a large number of swimmers, a large number of birds, shallow water, wet sand, wind and high waves, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit states. During a swimming advisory, the beach remains open, but swimmers are advised not to dunk their heads in the water and avoid swallowing it.
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit unlikely to be split: Dr. Charles Gardner
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In this week’s COVID-19 briefing, Dr. Charles Gardner of the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit says it’s unlikely the District of Muskoka and Simcoe County will split into separate health units.
According to Gardner, the SMDHU’s Board of Health’s formal position is that the health unit’s two regions should stay together. Gardner says he stands by the board’s decision.
“We’ve done well as a health unit, relatively speaking, with regards to COVID-19,” says Gardner. “Our overall case count and mortality count was slightly more than half of the provincial rate on a per-capita basis. We’ve performed well in the provision of vaccination throughout Simcoe-Muskoka.”
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The swimming advisory at Bracebridge’s Bowyer’s Beach has been lifted, but advisories remain at three other beaches in Muskoka.
The lifting of the advisory is effective immediately.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) still has swimming advisories in effect at Bass Lake Park and Muskoka Bay Park in Gravenhurst and Jaspen Beach in Muskoka Lakes.
None of the beaches will be closed, but signs will be put up a warning about the level of bacteria in the water. SMDHU officials say there may be an increased risk of developing minor skin, eye, ear, nose, and throat infections and stomach disorders.