BARRIE, ONT. The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit logged 82 COVID-19 infections on Thursday, for a total of 263 new cases this week. Most of the positive tests were in Barrie at 20, while Bradford followed with 18 and New Tecumseth had 15. Innisfil and Ramara each logged six cases, Orillia four, Essa three and two cases were reported in both Adjala-Tosorontio and Collingwood. There were single cases in Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Oro-Medonte, Severn, Tiny and Wasaga Beach. To date, public health has confirmed 10,851 infections, of those, 9,007 have resolved. There are currently 1,108 active cases across the region. Over 630 cases screened positive for a variant of concern and will undergo further testing to confirm and identify the COVID-19 strain.
Twenty-two residents from the Simcoe-Muskoka region have died at home with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
Those deaths do not include residents of long-term care homes who have died with the disease, but could include people living in retirement homes and group homes.
The Canadian Press reported last week there is an increase in the number of COVID patients dying at home in Ontario. Between April 1 and April 22, coroners have seen 25 cases of people in southern and central Ontario who have died of coronavirus disease at home. The ages of the victims ranged from the late 20s to their late 80s.
BARRIE, ONT. The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit reports a drop in daily COVID-19 case counts Tuesday, with 56 new infections logged, plus one death. The health unit says a Simcoe County man between the ages of 45 and 64 died due to an out of jurisdiction workplace outbreak. The region s total COVID-19 death count sits at 226. There are currently 1,526 active cases across Simcoe Muskoka, including 51 hospitalizations. Since February, public health has recorded the highest infection rates among young adults between 18 and 34. The main offenders continue to be variants of concern. There have been over 2,800 UK B.1.1.7 positive tests, plus 47 P.1 variants (Brazil) and 13 B.1.351 (South Africa) identified across the region to date.
BARRIE, ONT. The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit has opened a standby list for same-day appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine. Those who qualify as eligible can add their name to a standby list on the health unit website. Anyone who receives a standby call must get to the appointment location within 45 minutes of getting that call. The standby list is a new way for the health unit to use up any remaining vaccine doses at the end of each clinic day. The health unit s website has a list of the criteria necessary to qualify for the vaccine. People are still encouraged to book appointments, and if they get called for a standby shot, clinic staff will help cancel their appointment.
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Ontario’s health minister says the government is pleased to see thousands of people sign up for COVID-19 vaccines on the day eligibility opened to all adults in virus hot spots.
Christine Elliott says more than 73,000 appointments were booked between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Monday, despite the frustrations described by some social media users.
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Residents 18 or older living in 114 hot spot neighbourhoods were able to start reserving appointments this morning, but some reported difficulty and confusion with the process.