Residents of Barrie are being blocked from visiting two Toronto-area retirement homes. The company that runs the homes calls Barrie a "high alert community" when it comes to COVID-19.
99 additional people in Simcoe Muskoka likely have COVID-19 U.K. variant
by News Staff and the Canadian Press
Posted Jan 26, 2021 4:27 pm EDT
Last Updated Jan 26, 2021 at 5:02 pm EDT
Public health officials say 99 more people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Simcoe-Muskoka region likely have the U.K. variant of the virus which is more contagious and transmissible.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) says most of the cases are linked to a deadly outbreak at Roberta Place Long-Term Care home in Barrie, that has killed 46 people and infected more than 200. The U.K. variant has already been identified in some of those infected in that outbreak.
99 more cases believed to be U K COVID-19 variant found in Barrie, Ont LTC barrie.ctvnews.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from barrie.ctvnews.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
BARRIE The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit has identified 99 more cases of what it believes to be the highly contagious U.K. COVID-19 B.1.1.7. variant in the region. It had previously reported seven cases of the variant. Health officials say most of the new cases are linked to the Roberta Place Long Term Care home outbreak in Barrie, Ont; however, two cases aren t connected. As of Monday afternoon, more than 200 people have contracted the virus, while 44 residents and one essential caregiver have died at the long-term care home. Our investigation into these preliminary results is early, but it appears that two persons have no known link to those individuals we recently identified as positive for the United Kingdom (U.K.) variant, Dr. Charles Gardner, medical officer of health for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit said in a release.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is investigating the possibility that the U.K. variant of COVID-19 may be present in a second local long-term care home in outbreak