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5 more Simcoe County residents succumb to COVID

Acute care beds in Simcoe-Muskoka hospitals occupied at 100%, reports health unit
2021-12-07 Health unit Sperling RB 2
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit offices are located on Sperling Drive in Barrie.

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit has reported six deaths and 12 new hospitalizations in its latest report (Jan. 21).

The deaths include five people from Simcoe County and one person from Muskoka District, with three of the cases linked to institutional outbreaks. 

Those who died include: 

  • A man over 79 years old from Simcoe County who died on Jan. 20
  • A woman between 65 and 79 years old from Simcoe County who died on Jan. 20 and whose case was linked to an institutional outbreak. 
  • A woman over 79 years old from Muskoka District who died on Jan. 20. 
  • A man over 79 years old from Simcoe County who died on Jan. 20 and whose case was linked to an institutional outbreak. 
  • A woman between 45 and 64 years old from Simcoe County who died on Jan. 20. 
  • A woman between 65 and 79 years old from Simcoe County who died on Jan. 18 and whose case was linked to an institutional outbreak. 

Since July, the deaths reported by the health unit include 38 people who were unvaccinated and 23 who were fully vaccinated. Fewer than five of the deaths during that time were partially vaccinated individual

There are approximately 50 Simcoe-Muskoka residents hospitalized for COVID-19, this only includes the residents whose primary reason for admission is COVID-related illness. There are six patients in intensive care units with COVID-related illness.

Area hospitals may also accept patients from outside of the region. 

Occupied capacity for Simcoe-Muskoka hospitals is at 100 per cent for acute care (non-ICU) beds, 48 per cent for ventilator beds, and 66 per cent for acute care beds. 

While provincial testing guidelines prioritize testing for people living and working in high-risk congregate care settings and hospitalized patients, and test results are delayed by several days, the health unit is reporting 281 new cases today. 

Among the cases reported today are 41 unvaccinated people, 14 partially vaccinated people, and 141 fully vaccinated people. 

The health unit is reporting cases within the region, but is not providing further breakdowns on the primary residence municipality of the people who test positive. 

About 40 per cent of the total population of Simcoe-Muskoka region (including children too young to get the vaccine) now has three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, 36 per cent has two doses, five per cent has one dose, and 19 per cent have no doses of a COVID vaccine.

Since July 18, 2021, COVID hospitalizations in the region have included 174 unvaccinated people, 13 partially vaccinated people and 85 fully vaccinated people. 

In the same time frame, COVID-related ICU admissions have included 45 unvaccinated people and 12 fully vaccinated people. 

According to the health unit, those who are unvaccinated are 11 times more likely to be hospitalized from COVId, 19 times more likely to be admitted to the ICU and seven times more likely to die from a COVID infection compared to those who are fully vaccinated with two or more doses.

Since the start of the pandemic, the local health unit has confirmed 29,761 cases of COVID-19 with 20,633 of those cases recovered and 317 cases ending in death. 

There are 91 active outbreaks in Simcoe-Muskoka, including 46 in institutional settings (hospitals, long-term care, retirement homes), 34 in congregate settings (group homes, shelters), and 11 at child care centres.  

Twenty outbreaks have shown early signs (genetic marker) for the Omicron strain and at least one outbreak was caused by the Delta strain. The COVID strain for the other outbreaks is unknown at this time.


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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