BARRIE, ONT. Simcoe Muskoka added 49 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, for a total of 232 so far this week. The region also had another virus-related death reported by Georgian Bay General Hospital. The Midland facility is battling an outbreak of the virus that has infected 26 staff members and 23 patients. Simcoe Muskoka s health unit lists 614 active cases across the region, including 22 hospitalizations. The health unit says about half of all positive cases in December were close contacts with an infected person, while about 20 per cent were community-acquired with no known source. The region s top doc, Dr. Charles Gardner, has said contact tracing has been challenging as more people venture out of the home.
BARRIE, ONT. The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) reported the region s 57th COVID-19-related death Wednesday. The health unit says a woman in her 80s becomes the fourth person to die with COVID-19 in the past week alone. On Tuesday, a man 35 to 44 died at the Muskoka Algonquin Health Centre. On Monday, a man in his 80s died at Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston and on Thursday, a woman, 65 to 79, died at Georgian Bay General Hospital in Midland. The health unit listed 52 new cases, including 17 people who are in the hospital. There are currently 401 active COVID-19 cases across Simcoe Muskoka, with most residing in Barrie, Bradford West Gwillimbury, New Tecumseth, Essa, and Innisfil.