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2 deaths, 9 COVID patients hospitalized: health unit

Cases are up slightly week-over-week in Simcoe Muskoka, but the overall community risk remains 'moderate' says health unit
2020-07-28 SMDHU offices 3
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit offices are located on Sperling Drive in north-end Barrie. Raymond Bowe/BarrieToday

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is advising the overall COVID-19 risk level in the region remains "moderate," with similar trends in case counts, hospitalizations and deaths this week compared to last.

Today (Oct. 6) the health unit confirmed two more deaths and nine new hospitalizations since the last report on Sept. 29. 

The deaths include two Simcoe County woman, one over 80 years old whose case was outbreak related, and one under 44 years old. 

New COVID cases confirmed through testing were 37 per cent higher during the week of Sept. 25 compared to the week of Sept. 18, with health unit reports indicating 444 cases and 325 cases respectively. 

There have been 119 new cases reported so far this week. 

There are 26 area residents currently hospitalized because of COVID-19. By hospitalization date, there were 11 COVID patients admitted during the week of Sept. 18 to 24, and seven admitted during the week of Sept. 25 to Oct. 1. 

There have been 39 deaths linked to COVID reported by the health unit from August to now, with 14 of those occurring in September and two in October.

There are 30 active outbreaks in the region, including 24 at institutional settings like hospitals or long-term care homes, and six at congregate settings like group homes and shelters. 

Since the start of the pandemic, the local health unit has confirmed 51,436 cases of COVID-19, with 50,170 of those cases recovered and 577 cases ending in death.

Of the deaths reported by the health unit since March 2020, 486 were COVID-19-related, 80 deaths were not related to COVID-19 but the person tested positive, and for 11 of them, the cause of death is unknown or pending. 

To date, 83 per cent of the population aged five years old and up are fully vaccinated with two or more doses, and 18 per cent of the region’s total population (including children) is unvaccinated.

Wastewater monitoring in Bracebridge, Barrie, Penetanguishene, Midland, Orillia, and Collingwood show COVID-19 virus DNA as present in each of the communities, but there's been no increase or decrease noted in the last week. 

Anyone who has not yet received their COVID-19 vaccination or booster doses is encouraged to do so as soon as they are eligible. Information about eligibility and clinic locations is available at smdhu.org/GetVaccinated.


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Erika Engel

About the Author: Erika Engel

Erika regularly covers all things news in Collingwood as a reporter and editor. She has 15 years of experience as a local journalist
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