The Simcoe Muskoka District continues to see a sharp incline in COVID-19 cases.
In his weekly update, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Charles Gardner said cases in Muskoka are starting to increases as well, not only Simcoe.
Dr. Gardner said almost 20 percent of cases reported in both districts are a result of gathering that occurred over the Easter weekend.
The District of Muskoka’s test positivity, the percentage of tests coming back positive per day, has gone up from two percent to 3.9 percent this week, the highest in the district since the pandemic began.
Dr. Gardner also notes that Muskoka’s overall incidence of cases of 44 per 100,000 population, along with the 3.9 percent test positivity, would be categorized as red status.
Pop-up immunization clinics could target specific neighbourhoods, says Gardner barrietoday.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from barrietoday.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
BARRIE, ONT. Simcoe Muskoka s medical officer of health agrees the province made the right decision closing in-person learning for students for the foreseeable future as COVID-19 cases continue to surge across Ontario. On Monday, Premier Doug Ford announced Ontario s students would shift to remote learning following the spring break. Ford said the move was precautionary as COVID-19 spreads like wildfire, adding, schools are safe, but the province must do everything possible to bring infections down during the critical next few weeks. Simcoe Muskoka s top doctor, Dr. Charles Gardner, said that while in-class learning is vital to students mental health, he s not so sure the province will reopen schools for the remainder of the academic year. I truly hope so because of the benefits to children s health and mental health of being in school. I would truly hope we are able to achieve it, but I don t think we can guarantee it.
BARRIE, ONT. After being declared a COVID-19 hot-zone , the town of Bradford West Gwillimbury is looking for an increased supply of vaccines. Councillors in Bradford are calling on Simcoe-Muskoka s medical officer of health to push the province to provide more doses. The fact that our distribution of vaccines is apparently less than our per capita allotment would be troubling enough, but the reality that we are the only hot zone in your district should be reflected in surging vaccines to address this issue, councillors wrote in a letter to Dr. Charles Gardner Bradford has the highest incidence rate in Simcoe County, with 221 cases per 100,000 residents, nearly triple Barrie s rate.