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Health unit reports 11 more COVID-related deaths

Since the start of the pandemic, the local health unit has confirmed 47,958 cases of COVID-19, with 46,828 of those cases recovered and 529 cases ending in death

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit has confirmed 11 more deaths and seven new hospitalizations since the last report on July 19.

There are eight area residents currently hospitalized because of COVID-19. 

Based on the latest update, posted July 28, there were 579 new COVID cases during the week of July 17 confirmed through lab testing, that's compared to 359 cases reported the week of July 10. 

Case counts are underestimated as testing is limited. 

The health unit is recommending precautions, especially for those most vulnerable to severe outcomes from COVID-19, such as choosing outdoor activities over indoor, wearing a mask in an indoor public setting, limiting close contacts, and physical distancing from those not in your household. 

There are 23 active COVID-19 outbreaks, compared to 27 on July 19. They include 13 institutional settings (long-term care and nursing homes), five in a recreational camp setting, three in a group home, and two in a shelter.

There are active COVID-19 outbreaks at Riverwood Senior Living and Good Samaritan Seniors' Complex in Alliston, Holland Gardens Retirement Residence in Bradford, Amica Little Lake retirement home, Simcoe Terrace Retirement Centre and Grove Park Home in Barrie, Revera Sara Vista in Elmvale, Spencer House Care Community in Orillia, Simcoe Manor in Beeton

 A list of outbreaks is included on the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit website here.

According to the health unit, the rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations among the unvaccinated population 12 and up is three times higher, the rate of ICU admissions is five times higher and the rate of deaths is three times higher compared with those with two or more doses of vaccine

Since the start of the pandemic, the local health unit has confirmed 47,958 cases of COVID-19, with 46,828 of those cases recovered and 529 cases ending in death.

Of the deaths reported by the health unit since March 2020, 452 were COVID-19-related, 69 deaths were not related to COVID-19 and for eight of them, the cause of death is unknown or pending. 

The health unit reported 30 COVID deaths in April, 22 deaths in May, and 13 deaths in June, and 17 so far in July. Fourteen of the past 15 deaths have been in seniors 70 years of age and over.

Currently, 86 per cent of the population five years and older living in Simcoe-Muskoka have had at least one dose of vaccine including 81 per cent of youth 12 to 17 years of age. In addition, 47 per cent of children five to 11 years of age have received at least one dose of vaccine.

According to monitoring of the region’s hospitals by the health unit, 57.9 per cent of the region’s intensive care unit beds are full and 29 per cent of the ventilator beds are occupied. Acute care occupancy is highest with 95.3 per cent of the beds in the region currently full.

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.