BARRIE, ONT. --
Simcoe Muskoka health officials report a 30 per cent drop in confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past three weeks.
Past president of the Ontario Medical Association, Dr. Sohail Gandhi, says it's a sign of progress. "It's not quite what I'd like to see, but at least it's a step in the right direction."
Public health officials report 281 COVID-19 tests came back positive since Friday across Simcoe Muskoka.
There are currently 1,585 active infections in the region.
Still, Dr. Gandhi remains concerned about "the rationing of health care."
The health unit says there are 51 people in the hospital as of Monday fighting the virus. Of those, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie has 22 COVID-19 positive patients, seven on ventilators. It's unclear how many of these infected patients are transfers from overburdened GTA hospitals.