COVID-19 persists in Simcoe-Muskoka, with little increase or decrease in hospitalizations and deaths, but some decrease in test-confirmed cases. The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit confirmed seven more deaths and 19 new hospitalizations in its latest update. All seven of the recent deaths were Simcoe County residents, including two men between the ages of 65 and 79 and three men and two women over 79. All seven died between August 28 and September 12. Three deaths were linked to outbreaks. Twenty-six people in the area died in August after contracting COVID-19. In July 26 deaths were reported and in September six deaths. There are 32 area residents currently hospitalized due to COVID-19. By date of hospitalization, there were 19 patients with COVID admitted during the week of August 28 to September 3 and 16 admitted during the week of September 4 to 10. So far this week, two patients have been hospitalized. (September 11-14). There may be delays in reporting hospitalizations for the weekly updates from the health unit. Based on the health unit’s latest update, published on September 15, 262 new cases of COVID have been confirmed in the Simcoe-Muskoka region since last week. There were 251 cases reported at the health facility in the week of September 4, a 29 percent decrease compared to the 356 cases reported in the week of August 28. The seven-day moving average for new cases shows that there are about 33-34 new cases of COVID per day in the region. The number of cases is underestimated, as testing is limited. The positivity rate in the region is 10.9 percent, indicating that current testing is not catching all of the COVID cases in the region. The health facility’s goal is a positivity rate of about 1 percent or less to indicate good test coverage. There are 29 active cases in the region, including 22 in institutions such as hospitals or long-term care homes and seven in clustered centers such as group homes and shelters. Since the start of the pandemic, the local health unit has confirmed 50,312 cases of COVID-19, with 49,231 of them having recovered and 567 cases resulting in death. Of the deaths reported by the health unit since March 2020, 480 were related to COVID-19, 79 deaths were not related to COVID-19 but the person tested positive, and for eight of them, the cause of death is unknown or pending. To date, 83 percent of the population aged five and over is fully vaccinated with two or more doses, and 18 percent of the total population of the region (including children) is unvaccinated. According to the health unit’s monitoring of area hospitals, 60 percent of the area’s ICU beds are full and 29 percent of ventilator beds are occupied. Acute care occupancy is the highest with 92 percent of beds in the area currently full. Wastewater monitoring in Penetanguishene and Barrie shows reduction in DNA of the COVID-19 virus. Samples from Midland, Orillia and Collingwood show DNA of the COVID-19 virus as present in each of the communities, but there has been no increase or decrease in the past week. Bracebridge sampling shows spike in COVID-19 virus DNA in community. Anyone who has not yet received the COVID-19 vaccination or booster doses is encouraged to do so as soon as they are eligible. Information on eligibility and clinic locations is available at smdhu.org/GetVaccinated.
