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Month: July 2021

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Fifteen per cent of Canadians are skeptical or undecided about COVID-19 risks, new survey finds

Jul 20, 2021 , , , , by shlf

The majority of Canadians are aware of the public health risk of COVID-19, but 15 per cent say they don’t believe the virus poses a big health risk to the population or are undecided,

The findings have raised questions among public health experts about how to address those who don’t believe in the seriousness of a virus that has killed more than 10,000 Canadians, and whether their skepticism poses a risk as cases rise at an unprecedented rate.

In a survey of 3,000 workers across Canada conducted Sept. 28 to Oct. 19, focused on COVID and its mental health impacts, 86 per cent of respondents agreed the virus is a serious public health risk. Six per cent said they do not, and eight per cent said they were undecided.

Those who believe COVID-19 is not a serious public health risk also reported lower rates of poor mental health than those who do believe the virus is a risk. The mental health of skeptics is 6.9 per cent lower than pre-pandemic rates, whereas the average of mental health decline among Canadians is around 11 per cent, Morneau Shepell says, citing its Mental Health Index.

This indicates that believing COVID-19 does not pose a serious risk “contributes to less mental health strain,” Morneau Shepell said of its findings in a report, released Thursday.

Paula Allen, senior vice-president of research, analytics and innovation at Morneau Shepell, said finding a small percentage of the population that didn’t believe in the risk of COVID-19 was not surprising.

“I’d question the data if that number was zero,” Allen said.

But the data does indicate what some know to be true: not everybody agrees that COVID-19 is a danger.

Dr. Colin Furness, an associate professor at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, said the percentage of people who don’t believe in the risk of the virus or are undecided is likely to be higher at 20 per cent, given that those who are unconvinced about the severity of COVID-19 likely won’t answer surveys about its impact.

Furness said it’s difficult to decipher why some people are apathetic about COVID-19. Part of it, he said, could be denial, though it’s hard to measure people’s perception of their own reality through self-reporting surveys.

“Denial is an adaptive response,” Furness said. “If you want your cortisol levels to go down, if you want your blood pressure to go down, if you want to be able to sleep, there’s nothing like denying reality that lets you do that.”

For Allen, the findings point to some people’s perception that the virus isn’t something to worry about. This could govern how they navigate their everyday lives, and it poses a concern about how their behaviour will affect others, she added.

“If your perception is that there really isn’t any kind of risk to your health or the wellbeing of others, your perception is also likely to be that this is going to blow over quickly as well,” Allen said, adding that their behaviour to mitigate the risk of infection won’t change, likely to their detriment “and perhaps the detriment of others.”

At the time the survey was conducted and shortly afterwards, COVID-19 cases reached unprecedented highs in Toronto and Ontario. On Wednesday, Ontario In Toronto, daily case numbers have exceeded the 500 mark, prompting the city to enter the

For the majority of Canadian workers who do take COVID-19 seriously, their mental health has been hurt by the recent spike in cases, the Morneau Shepell survey revealed. Anxiety, depression, work productivity and optimism levels have all worsened since Morneau Shepell’s last mental health survey in September.

Canadian’s overall mental health has declined 11.4 per cent from pre-pandemic rates, inching closer to mental health rates in April and May when the impact of the pandemic was first felt. Allen said this number is even more worrisome in October due to the prolonged pandemic-induced stress people have been feeling for months.

While 90 per cent of those surveyed said they are handling the health and safety risk of the pandemic well, 35 per cent didn’t have that same confidence in their neighbours, and that percentage of people reported lower mental health scores overall.

But Furness offers some perspective: the small percentage of people that don’t believe in the risk of COVID-19 are likely not the main drivers of the uptick in infection; rather, he believes it is the behaviour of the majority who are confused about mixed-messaging from public health officials.

Bars and restaurants have remained open in many areas, allowing people to gather and socialize in small, confined spaces. Yet people were told to simultaneously limit personal gatherings, likely causing risky behaviour in other circumstances, Furness said.

“We’re saying ‘Do this, it’s fine, just please don’t do the same thing in your living rooms for reasons we can’t explain,’” Furness said. “And that last piece, people aren’t able to hear.”

It’s also unlikely that the opinion of COVID-19 non-believers will change, Furness said. The solution then lies in sidestepping the problem by implementing mandatory mask-wearing and other simple, effective measures.

For those who are worried, both Furness and Allen encouraged people to focus on what is within their own control: following safety measures, staying informed, preparing for the unpredictability of the virus and reaching out for help when it’s needed. Allen also pointed to AbilitiCBT,

“That’s the way you deal with fear,” Furness said. “Try to convert it into vigilance.”

Nadine Yousif is a Toronto-based reporter for the Star covering mental health. Her reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. Follow her on Twitter:

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Police arrest four suspects, find cocaine, fentanyl at two Orillia homes

Jul 20, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Four suspects are charged with drug trafficking offences after OPP officers found cocaine, fentanyl, cash and two large knives during searches at two Orillia homes Nov. 18.

Police executed search warrants as part of an ongoing investigation.

Two Orillia men, 34 and 46, a 24-year-old Hamilton man and 21-year-old Mississauga man are charged with trafficking cocaine and opioids.

The Toronto man and Mississauga man also face charges for possession of proceeds obtained from crime under $5,000 in connection with money seized by police.

Police did not lay charges in connection with the knives.

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North Simcoe artists have struggled throughout pandemic

Jul 20, 2021 , , , , by shlf

The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough for everybody, and artists are no exception.

Cynthia Blair, a Tiny Township painter, was planning on attending 12 shows throughout 2020.

Instead, Blair was only able to attend one — The Bay Studio Tour. The popular event, which showcases artists and artisans throughout Midland, Penetanguishene, Tiny and Tay, managed to hold a scaled-down event in early October.

About 200 people masked up and visited Blair’s studio over the course of two days to view her work, which is her preferred way to do business.

“Online is good, but I think art needs to be experienced in person,” said Blair. “There is an endless supply of art online. It’s easy to get overwhelmed.”

However, with the majority of art shows cancelled, Blair has been working to expand her online presence. She’s recently started to promote her work.

“This year, it’s important for artists to be online. You’ve got to get your work out there,” said Blair. “I am using social media in a much more concentrated way now.”

Along with having a ton of extra time to paint, the pandemic has given Blair the ability to focus on branching out online and improving her website .

While she was able to adapt, some local artists aren’t too adept at social media.

“There are a lot of artists who count on shows every year. Without them, you don’t get the sales that you normally would,” said Blair.

One of those artists is Midland’s Sylvie Huntley.

Huntley, who works with alcohol ink on ceramic tile and resin, was gearing up for an extremely busy 2020. Then the pandemic ruined her plans.

“I had 26 events booked. I was going to be branching out of Simcoe County for the first time,” said Huntley. “I had shows booked in Parry Sound, Muskoka and down in Niagara Falls. All 26 were cancelled.”

These cancellations were a huge blow to Huntley’s business. She isn’t too proficient at using social media to market and sell her work, and mostly relies on craft shows and festivals.

“My projected sales are down about 80 per cent; that’s based off how I did last year and where I was going this year,” said Huntley. “So, my revenue has almost entirely gone toward purchasing art supplies.”

In order to continue selling her work, she took the necessary steps to safety open her home up to interested patrons. 

“I’m keeping it positive,” said Huntley, who is known online as the . “By not having shows, I was able to spend a lot of time painting and learning new techniques.”

Huntley created 13 new paintings this year. She has taken those paintings — most of them picturesque views of Georgian Bay — and transferred them to coasters, trivets, scarves, place mats, calendars and more.

All of these products are featured in a pop-up studio in her living room. She will be taking appointments through to Dec. 6.

To contact Huntley, call . 

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: The COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the majority of area craft shows and events. So, reporter Andrew Mendler decided to check in with local artists regarding the impact of those cancellations.

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A Taste of Soul brings sounds and flavours to Simcoe County

Jul 19, 2021 , , , , by shlf

Originally from Texas and a fan of southern cuisine, Gwyn Beaver was a bit disappointed with the food options when she first moved to Canada 16 years ago.

“We lived in Montreal and I started making southern cooking for colleagues,” Beaver said. “It was down-home cooking like cornbread, fried chicken, candied sweet potatoes, Hoppin’ John — a black-eyed pea dish — collard greens, jambalaya, gumbo, sweet-potato pie, pecan pie and pickled okra.”

Some of them said it was so good, she should open a business.

Beaver knew she wanted to name it , but Quebec rules dictate the title has to be in French.

“I didn’t want to change the name,” she said.

Fast forward to 2018, when Beaver and husband Shawn Pitre moved to Wasaga Beach.

“I was ready for a change. I’m a performer and what I’ve always wanted to do is music and food,” she said.

So, she got a business licence and started doing A Taste of Soul pop-up dinners for friends.

“It was like hiring a personal chef for the evening. I would bring everything: the choice of two entrees, two sides and two desserts. And I would clean up.”

Then the pandemic hit and Beaver wasn’t sure where to turn.

Someone suggested she offer virtual cooking classes.

And Pitre, who studied ethnomusicology, was on board to teach musical tidbits during the class.

“Jambalaya is known as much as a dish as a song,” he said. “There are something like 300 different versions in different languages around the world. It was an easy fit — I’ve already done a ton of research on this.”

“It’s a great way to be entertaining and educate people,” Beaver said. “People say they love this type of food, but don’t know anything about the culture.”

And the origins of music or food have more connections that we sometimes realize, she said.

The Jambalaya 101 class uses vegetables, rice, spices of salt, pepper, paprika, and a protein like crawfish, shrimp, chicken or tofu.

And with plenty of snowbirds already familiar with corn bread or fried chicken, making a Jambalaya or gumbo isn’t too challenging, Beaver said.

The hardest part about it is making the roux, which is a paste made from flour.

“It’s time consuming. So while people are cooking with us, that’s when you can open the wine,” she said.

Beaver also uses OfficeInc! Corp’s Food Opportunity Resource Kitchen (FORK) in Barrie to prepare a monthly lunch for pickup in the city, called Sunday Soul.

For more information about A Taste of Soul, visit their  or visit .

A TASTE OF SOUL

TYPE: Southern entrees and dessert

PHONE:

HOURS: Sunday Soul or virtual class by appointment

WEBSITE: 

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Warning from a pandemic data dump? Ottawa sewage shows ‘alarming’ spike in COVID-19 virus

Jul 19, 2021 , , , , by shlf

A novel method of sampling sewage for is showing an “alarming” surge in viral transmission in Ottawa, researchers say — a detection process that belies flattening case counts registered by the province’s strained testing system.

Toronto is set to get its own poop report within weeks.

Because people with COVID-19 shed the virus in their stool, the presence of viral fragments in municipal wastewater has been successfully used as an . In Ontario, scientists at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and the University of Ottawa have been at the forefront of this technique.

After remaining low all summer, the virus levels in Ottawa’s wastewater doubled over the month of September, the researchers say. Then, in the first half of October, it doubled again. Tuesday’s measurements were particularly concerning.

“This morning, we can see rather alarmingly that it’s three to six times higher than it was back on Oct. 8. So it seems to be tracking up,” says Dr. Alex MacKenzie, a pediatrician and senior scientist at CHEO Research Institute.

“It’s going up, and it’s going up faster, which is something to take note of,” said Rob Delatolla, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Ottawa.

Epidemiologists that upheaval in the province’s testing system — difficulty accessing assessment centres, backlogs of swabs, and changes to testing criteria — mean that any apparent flattening in Ontario’s case curve should be considered suspect.

Ottawa’s seven-day average of new cases dropped from 117 on Sunday to 98 on Tuesday, according to the public health unit’s monitoring dashboard. Both Premier Doug Ford and Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams have recently referenced signs the Ontario curve is flattening.

But testing in Ottawa has also dropped since the switch to appointment-based booking, according to data from the Ottawa COVID-19 Testing Taskforce. Across the city’s five assessment centres, the weekday swab average fell from 2,686 in the week before the change to 2,184 the week afterwards, a drop of 19 per cent.

“What is innovative and important is that this is an indicator that is not based on the effectiveness of the testing system at any given point in time,” says Alex Munter, CHEO’s president and CEO.

“I do think it is really useful information … that can help guide policy-making and help the community understand where things are at. And so from our perspective here in Ottawa, where we have the highest rate per hundred thousand people of COVID at the moment, this is a really important measure of the effectiveness of our public health regulation.”

Across the province and country, researchers are already providing sewage samples to municipalities to use as part of their COVID-19 monitoring arsenal.

At Ryerson University in Toronto, Kimberley Gilbride, a professor of chemistry and biology, and Claire J. Oswald, an associate professor in the department of geography and environmental studies, are part of a national COVID-19 Wastewater Coalition through the non-profit Canadian Water Network.

It’s taking them a little longer than their counterparts in Ottawa, given the size of Toronto. But they hope to have results within the next weeks to month, Oswald said, which they will first share with Toronto Public Health.

“This could be an additional source of information that’s made public,” she said, perhaps even on , alongside other indicators such as hospitalizations and new daily cases.

Oswald said they are looking at the west side of the city and have “initial results” from the wastewater treatment plant that serves that area.

As it’s so “time and money intensive” to get the samples and analyze them, they decided to keep the scope tight, but this includes the hard- hit northwest corner of the city.

They’re using early results to “refine the method right now,” in collaboration with groups like the one working in Ottawa, and doing quality assurance.

They are also working to get sampling sites set up “upstream” of the wastewater treatment plant, so they can see different branches of the sewage system at the community level.

has been used in cities across the world, from to New Haven, to track trends in COVID-19 cases, and

The virus has a relatively long incubation period of up to two weeks. Some people don’t show symptoms at all, others don’t for a while, and not everyone will get tested.

But they shed virus in feces, and everyone’s goes down the drain whether they know they have COVID-19 or not.

The RNA fragments of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, like a fingerprint, can tell scientists that the virus was there.

It’s known as an “envelope virus” because it has a layer of fat around it that doesn’t make it into sewage, so it’s not infectious at that point.

Sewage epidemiology can’t replace classic outbreak tools of testing, and isolation. But it can be a complement to those tools and serve as an early warning system for spikes in cases, regardless of limitations on testing.

Toronto Water is also participating in two other “independent research initiatives” on the virus in wastewater, according to a spokesperson: with Statistics Canada/Public Health Agency of Canada (National Microbiology Laboratory), and with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks/University of Guelph.

“Toronto Water’s contribution is limited to the collection and supply of wastewater samples to the researchers. Timelines and research results may be available through the respective research teams,” the spokesperson said in an email.

Toronto’s Public Health head Dr. Eileen de Villa was asked about the status of these projects at the daily COVID press conference, Wednesday. She said the agency is “actively participating in those research endeavours and engaging with the researchers on their findings.”

Similar projects are also underway at campuses, including and the and an official with Peel Region said they plan to publish findings from sewage tracking there online, on Friday.

Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontario’s associate chief medical officer of health, said at the province’s daily news briefing that this kind of surveillance can be “an alarm bell,” as research has shown it’s possible to “identify an increase in the sewage probably two-to-four days earlier than you start to see an increase in cases.”

This kind of data is being collected “sort of on a pilot basis” across the province, she said.

CHEO Research Institute’s MacKenzie warned that Ottawa’s wastewater surge this week came from infections that occurred before the long weekend, “so let’s hope everyone behaved over Thanksgiving.”

Kate Allen is a Toronto-based reporter covering science and technology for the Star. Follow her on Twitter:

May Warren is a Toronto-based breaking news reporter for the Star. Follow her on Twitter:

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LIVE VIDEO: Ontario Premier Doug Ford provides daily update on COVID-19 November 18

Jul 19, 2021 , , , , by shlf

In a news conference at Queen’s Park, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and provincial cabinet ministers Christine Elliott (health) and Dr. Merrilee Fullerton (long-term care) provide an update on their government’s response to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) pandemic. They are joined by Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health.

In Brampton, Mayor Patrick Brown and municipal officials provide an update on COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) in the city.

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Barrie man jailed for manslaughter after supplying friend with deadly opioid

Jul 19, 2021 , , , , by shlf

A 31-year-old Barrie man who unknowingly gave a friend a deadly synthetic opioid instead of cocaine was sentenced to 18 months in jail for manslaughter.

Justice Jonathan Bliss released his reasons for the sentence Oct. 30, saying while Robert Rodgers was remorseful for the overdose death of Darci Beers on Aug. 18, 2017, he failed to help her when she needed it most.

Bliss said there’s no doubt Rodgers believed the white powdery substance he shared with Beers and her neighbour was cocaine. 

When Beers ingested a substance she believed was cocaine but was actually U-47700, known as “Pinky” on the street, it had a fatal effect.

While Beers died in her apartment, Rodgers and the neighbour were both rendered unconscious, the sentencing report says.

When the neighbour awoke, he tried to perform CPR on Beers, who was on the kitchen floor.

The neighbour yelled at Rodgers to call 911, but instead he called his mother to come pick him up, Bliss wrote. Other neighbours came to help, speaking with dispatchers on the phone until paramedics arrived.

“All the while Mr. Rodgers did nothing. Mr. Rodgers was certainly emotional and remorseful during his interview with police, but when he needed to act, when he needed to demonstrate concern and empathy for someone other than himself, for something he was responsible for, he failed,” Bliss said.

Beers was the mother of a three-year-old boy.

Rodgers pleaded guilty after being charged with manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death in November 2017.

Rodgers told police he only knew his drug dealer as “Josh” and provided officers with the dealer’s phone number. However, police were unable to track the dealer down.

Bliss said despite Rodgers believing he was providing cocaine, he should have been wary of possible opioid substitutes.

Rodgers did not test the drug when he purchased it, and ended up suffering a small stroke when he consumed it, the court heard.

“It could not have been lost on him that cocaine is still a dangerous drug that alone could have been fatal, and, even in 2017, was being adulterated with other drugs with fatal consequences.” 

Rodgers was sentenced last February.

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Martin Regg Cohn: Ontario’s PC government has changed its tune on hiking our debt. Don’t expect the same on raising taxes

Jul 19, 2021 , , , , by shlf

It took a Progressive Conservative government and a pandemic to push Ontario’s debt beyond $400 billion.

Now it’s barrelling toward $500 billion, which translates into half a trillion dollars — plus or minus. That adds up to the biggest debt for any “subsovereign” entity on the planet.

Is our province in over its proverbial head?

Finance Minister Rod Phillips shakes his head: “No.”

Not to worry, Phillips says reassuringly in the middle of the cavernous Toronto Star newsroom, now nearly empty in mid-pandemic. He is and the newspaper’s senior leadership, and he is on the spot — even if socially distanced.

In opposition, his Tories pointed accusing fingers over Ontario’s rising repayment burden. Now, in power, their fingerprints are all over that debt.

It can now be said that the Tories are doing the right thing — not the right wing thing. Borrowing big is risky, but doing less would be reckless.

At what point does Ontario’s debt load reach the point of no return?

The rate of return for the province’s infrastructure investments has never been higher, because : 1.6 per cent a year, according to his . Phillips is correct that in the worst of times, there has never been a better time to borrow — and lock in for the long term.

Ontario is not an over-leveraged private firm, nor an overstretched household. The province is deeply diversified, endowed with valuable natural resources, rich human resources and unrivalled competitive advantages — geographic and governmental.

True, the province is not a nation. Hence the old bugaboo about our so-called “subsovereign” status, about which it is often said that we have borrowed more money than any comparable subnational jurisdiction on earth.

But what does that mean in the real world?

Yes, Ontario is uniquely indebted. But it is also uniquely endowed and uniquely positioned — a province unlike any other, by virtue of its population but also its economic heft and industrial base. Other provinces have not been so lucky of late, running out of runway when investors balked at their public debt offerings.

Hence the recurring spectre of the debt wall that haunts every government, not least the NDP government of the early 1990s: What if Wall Street or Bay Street stops buying our bonds because they deem our debt not a good bet?

A provincial treasurer cannot allow himself to discuss such delicate matters in public, so Phillips opts for discretion over speculation. Suffice to say there are countless reasons that the bond markets cannot now resist buying a half-trillion dollars in Ontario debt.

Perhaps the real answer is that no other jurisdiction fits our subsovereign description, both in terms of debt obligations but also governing obligations. American states are restricted in their borrowings, which is why our province is more indebted than any of them, and thus different by definition.

American governments also have less onerous responsibilities, notably in health care — OHIP delivers universal coverage that no U.S. state offers, yielding savings to employers who aren’t saddled with costly private health plans. Comparing us to overseas jurisdictions is equally pointless because we are incomparably well situated, given our proximity to American markets and a stable currency.

There’s another reason bond markets and credit rating agencies like Ontario’s debt, but which the finance minister is also loath to discuss publicly. Just as it’s too risky for Phillips to rattle the bond markets over our debt, it’s also too dangerous for him to discuss dreaded tax increases.

The reason our debt keeps ballooning is that our taxes aren’t keeping pace. Put another way, the better way to get a grip on our spiralling debt isn’t to cut spending on services — already the lowest per capita in Canada — but raise taxes to catch up with other provinces, such as Quebec.

The question is not merely ideological but fiscal. Credit rating agencies can see for themselves that Ontario has a strong tax base to bail itself out — if not now, later; if not mid-pandemic, perhaps post-pandemic.

Ontarians will eventually have to level with themselves about the delusion that we can continue to pay low taxes and low hydro rates while bankrolling rising costs and growing investments that keep us competitive. Perhaps that’s why Phillips has quietly ignored his party’s pledge in the last election to lower hydro rates by a further 12 per cent.

Promise made, promise kept — on hold.

As it is, the treasury is already bleeding billions of dollars to pay for hydro subsidies dreamed up by the last Liberal government to ratchet down costs for ratepayers on the backs of taxpayers (egged on by the Tories in opposition, echoed by the NDP). In this month’s budget, Phillips opted to lower hydro rates further — but only for commercial customers, not for ordinary taxpayers who will be footing the bill.

The finance minister is betting lower electricity costs will attract more industrial investment, which in turn broadens the rate base. But taking on yet more debt to pay endless electricity bills is a gamble.

Phillips has a sleight of hand up his sleeve. He is not only borrowing other people’s money in record quantities, he is also spending other people’s money in vast quantities — courtesy of federal cash flow that has reached record heights.

Ontario still won’t say how much, but it’s a question I put to the finance department on budget day, and again Friday to Phillips in the Toronto Star newsroom. As ever, he pledged full transparency.

Promise made, promise kept — on hold. We’ll keep asking.

Martin Regg Cohn is a Toronto-based columnist covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow him on Twitter:

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What to expect at the ski hill this pandemic winter

Jul 19, 2021 , , , , by shlf

COVID-19 has taken many things from Ontarians, but skiing isn’t one of them. Neither is snowboarding. 

Public Health Ontario promotes physical activity for its role in maintaining the health and fitness of people of all ages, and with fewer options across the province for indoor exercise and recreation this winter, Paul Pinchbeck, president of the Canadian Ski Council (CSC), says this year is as good as any to hit the slopes.

“We believe being active outdoors in the winter is a key to a year-round active lifestyle. There are significant health benefits associated with being outdoors on a regular basis,” he said

“There are not only significant physical benefits to being outdoors, but significant mental health benefits, and that is a really important thing.”

The CSC has published a set of public health-compliant guidelines ski resorts will follow to help keep staff and visitors as safe as possible this winter. 

Here is what Ontarians can expect during visits to their local ski hills: 

Face coverings: Face coverings or masks will be required wherever physical distancing isn’t possible, including in both indoor and outdoor spaces, except when eating or drinking. They will also be mandatory on ski lifts.

Physical distancing: A physical distance of two metres will be enforced in lines and on ski lifts, and current guidelines state only members of the same household or social bubble will be permitted to ride the ski lift together with less than two metres of separation.

There will be limitations to the number of people allowed to sit at a dining table together, but those limitations will vary based on local public health guidelines. Guests will be encouraged to sit only with members of their household or social bubble. These guidelines are subject to change as individual regions experience tightening or loosening public health restrictions. 

Cleaning: Ski resorts will establish cleaning and disinfection strategies for all areas, including high-touch areas such as restrooms, restaurants, dining areas, ticket offices and rental counters. 

Behind the scenes: Facilities will develop operational plans to allow for appropriate spacing between groups, including in ski lift lines, ticket lines, ski and snowboard lessons, employee spaces and food and beverage areas. 

Employees will receive training in COVID-19 safety and disinfection protocols according to public health guidelines. Employees will also be screened daily for COVID-19 symptoms and will be sent home if they exhibit symptoms or have come into contact with a positive case. 

For more information about these guidelines, visit .

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Simcoe Muskoka health unit reports 171 new COVID-19 cases over the weekend

Jul 19, 2021 , , , , by shlf

It wasn’t even close.

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit reported 171 new COVID-19 cases Dec. 7, in the first public update of statistics since Friday. That smashes the previous weekend caseload high for the Simcoe-Muskoka region, recorded Nov. 30, of 96.

This region set a weekly record of 231 cases last week.

There is one new death to report today — a Simcoe County man in the 18-34 age demographic. That brings the total number of residents to succumb to the virus since the start of the pandemic to 53.

Of the region’s 24 cities and lower-tier municipalities, 19 had cases today. Barrie reported the most, by far, at 55. Next is New Tecumseth (18), Bradford and Innisfil (15 each), Springwater (12), Essa (11), Oro-Medonte (10), Orillia (nine), Midland (six), Clearview and Wasaga Beach (four each), Collingwood (three), Tay (two) and Adjala-Tosorontio, Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Muskoka Lakes and Ramara (one each).

Twenty-one residents 17 years of age or under — seven in Barrie, four in Innisfil, three each in Essa and Springwater, two in New Tecumseth, one each in Orillia and Ramara — are listed. Two people in the 80-plus age group — a Barrie woman and a Huntsville man — fell ill, too.

Sixteen incidents — all 10 Oro-Medonte cases, as well as four in Orillia, and one each in Barrie and Tay — are linked to congregate setting outbreaks. Five involve school outbreaks (three in Innisfil and one each in Barrie and Springwater). Two residents in Barrie and one in Bracebridge are connected to workplace outbreaks.

There are also two new cases involving institutional outbreaks — a Barrie man and a Springwater girl.

Sources of infection in today’s incidents otherwise range from “close contact” and “community-acquired” to “under investigation.”

Since March, 2,418 people have contracted COVID-19 in the region, with 1,994 successfully recovering.

There are 358 known active cases, including nine hospitalizations.

The health unit says there are 17 outbreaks in the region right now — six schools, four workplaces, two long-term-care homes, two congregate sites, one retirement home, one hospital and one community setting.

Schools affected are Alliston’s Banting Memorial, Angus’s Nottawasaga Pines, Barrie’s Portage View and Steele Street, Bradford District and Innisfil’s Nantyr Shores.

Georgian Bay General Hospital’s Midland site declared an outbreak in the 2 North in-patient unit last week; since then, one patient and six staff members have tested positive.

The two long-term-care facilities operating under outbreak protocols are the Essa unit at Beeton’s Simcoe Manor and 2 East at Barrie’s Mill Creek Care Centre.

Nearly 50 per cent of new infections in December with a known cause were acquired through close contact with a confirmed positive case; about 20 per cent were contracted in the community with no known source of infection, the health unit says.

More than 33 per cent of all active cases are among young adults in the 18-34 demographic. This age group has the highest rate of infection since June.