The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is advising the overall COVID-19 risk level in the region is moderate, with similar trends in case counts, hospitalizations and deaths this week compared to last.
Today (Sept. 29) the health unit confirmed seven more deaths and eight new hospitalizations since the last report on Sept. 22.
New COVID cases confirmed through testing were 23 per cent higher during the week of Sept. 18 compared to the week of Sept. 11, with health unit reports indicating 325 cases and 265 cases respectively.
There have been 252 new cases reported so far this week.
There are 19 area residents currently hospitalized because of COVID-19. By hospitalization date, there were 15 COVID patients admitted during the week of Sept. 11 to 17, and six admitted during the week of Sept. 18 to 24.
There have been 63 deaths linked to COVID reported by the health unit from July to now, with 14 of those occurring in September.
There are 26 active outbreaks in the region, including 18 at institutional settings like hospitals or long-term care homes, and eight at congregate settings like group homes and shelters.
Since the start of the pandemic, the local health unit has confirmed 51,019 cases of COVID-19, with 49,813 of those cases recovered and 575 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 nine 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.
