The number of COVID-19 deaths in Simcoe Muskoka has risen to 182 Thursday, as the case count remains on a downward trend with 48 new diagnoses reported by the health unit. The Simcoe Muskoka health unit reports the number of variant cases has increased to 168, eight more in the last 24 hours, with 156 possible cases that screened positive but require further testing to confirm. The region has 607 active COVID-19 cases, including 23 people in the hospital. The decreasing case numbers come as the outbreak at Roberta Place Long-Term Care Home is declared over. The deadly outbreak claimed 70 lives and infected nearly everyone inside the building.