Click here to see the most recent COVID-19 news, community stories, and commentary or continue reading for the latest case counts.
COVID-19 cases in Simcoe Muskoka:
Last updated May 20, 2021, 1:00 p.m.
Note: numbers are based on Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit reporting and due to differences in reporting times may conflict with other sources. There may also be a lag in reports from the health unit due to a high volume of contact tracing.
Total laboratory-confirmed cases to date: 11,554 (11,123 cases in Simcoe County and 428 in Muskoka)
Resolved: 10,109
Active, unhospitalized: 1,13
Active, currently hospitalized: 30
Deaths to date: 242
Summary of Muskoka cases:
Total cases to date: 428
Active infections: 48, including two in hospital
Muskoka cases with confirmed or suspected variants of concern: As of May 20, 2021: 148 B.1.1.7 (UK), one P.1 (Brazilian) variant, one B.1.351 (South African), and 28 screened positive for a variant of concern
Resolved: 373
Deaths: five (two in Huntsville, one in Muskoka Lakes, one in Bracebridge, one in Gravenhurst)
Huntsville: 121 (110 resolved, two deceased) (See below the graph for a list of all Huntsville/Lake of Bays cases to date.)
Lake of Bays: 20 (17 resolved) (See below the graph for a list of all Huntsville/Lake of Bays cases to date.)
Muskoka Lakes: 102 (87 resolved, one deceased)
Bracebridge: 86 (68 resolved, one deceased)
Gravenhurst: 72, including one in hospital (65 resolved, one deceased)
Georgian Bay: 27, including one in hospital (26 resolved)
See a summary by municipality for all of Simcoe Muskoka on the SMDHU COVID-19 Case Explorer website.
Huntsville and Lake of Bays COVID cases: by the numbers
Total cases: 141 (121 in Huntsville, 20 in Lake of Bays)
Total deaths: two (a man aged 35-44 and a man aged 45-64)
By age:
0-17 – 18
18-34 – 39
35-44 – 20
45-64 – 37
65-79 – 18
80+ – nine
By gender:
Female – 72
Male – 69
By source of infection:
Close contact – 70
Community acquired – 36
Outbreak related – 22
Travel related – 6
Under investigation – 0
Undetermined – 7
(Scroll down to see a list of all Huntsville Lake of Bays cases to date.)
Information on vaccinations
Get information on Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout here.
Where to get tested
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, are concerned about possible exposure and need to be tested, or qualify for a test under Ministry of Health guidelines, you will need to go to an assessment centre. Visit ontario.ca/covidtest for locations.
If you do not have symptoms of COVID-19 and require a test for other reasons, there is currently one pharmacy in Huntsville conducting testing: Huntsville Shoppers Drug Mart (51 King William Street). Visit covid-19.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/testing to check that you are eligible and submit a screening form. Walk-in tests are not available.
COVID-19 resources:
Mental health supports (opens in a new page)
Ontario Ministry of Health – data updated daily
Ontario’s online self-assessment tool.
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
Huntsville Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce information and updates for businesses
Huntsville and Friends Help Out Group on Facebook – if you need support or supplies or have them to offer
Huntsville & Area Strong – Together we Stand Community COVID-19 Help Group on Facebook – if you need support or supplies or have them to offer
Lake of Bays Community Group on Facebook
Huntsville (H) and Lake of Bays (LOB) cases to date (see a breakdown by age below)
April 10, 2021 (H) – 18-34 year-old male, community acquired
March 7, 2021 (H) – 45-64 year-old male, close contact
March 7, 2021 (H) – 65-79 year-old female, community-acquired
March 7, 2021 (H) – 65-79 year-old male, community-acquired
March 6, 2021 (H) – 35-44 year-old female, close contact
March 5, 2021 (H) – 0-17 year-old female, close contact
March 5, 2021 (H) – 0-17 year-old female, close contact
March 5, 2021 (H) – 0-17 year-old female, close contact
March 5, 2021 (H) – 0-17 year-old female, close contact
March 5, 2021 (H) – 18-34 year-old male, close contact
March 4, 2021 (H) – 35-44 year-old female, close contact
February 28, 2021 (H) – 18-34 year-old male, close contact
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Jacquie Howell says
Could we have some statically information based on population. I believe Huntsville has a population of approximately of 20,000. With 11 cases in one day. I suspect that is extremely high compared to say Barrie with 50 case and and a population of. ?????????? Percentage of population is far more accurate
Dawn Huddlestone, Managing Editor says
Hi Jacquie,
The standard measurement used by public health is cases per 100,000 population per week. Because Huntsville’s population is less than 100,000, the actual number of cases is multiplied to determine the rate. For the week beginning March 7, the rate in Huntsville was 42 cases per 100,000; for Barrie it was 86 per 100,000.
Bonnie Borden says
Would you please tell us how many of the cases are the new variants?
Bonnie Borden
Kim Bendall says
Please be aware that while Astra Zeneca may well be an effective vaccine, it is not available north of Vaughn Mills. Government websites, public health, regional government offices and the relentless bombardment of media messaging insist that the vaccine is available at pharmacies and doctors offices but that is false.
The reality is that a small amount was delivered early April to Muskoka and people were provided with one dose. They were not allowed to book dose 2 unlike Pfizer shots through public health. If those individuals need to get the second dose sooner due to high risk medical diagnosis, there is absolutely no vaccine available and no portal to talk to a professional to book the second dose (try it).
For anyone who received Dose 1 of Astra Zeneca in Muskoka, be aware that trying to schedule your second dose will be extremely difficult. The administrative work of scheduling appointments without delivery dates falls on the independent pharmacies who have been given absolutely no idea as to when the second dump of AZ will actually happen (if in fact it does arrive).
This is a frightening situation. I have made dozens of phone calls in attempts to book dose 2 of Astra Zeneca. No one could advise me. I was referred to 16 different places. Each call required sitting through extensive phone messages about covid symptoms, mask wearing and importance of getting the vaccine! But not a single health service person could actually help me book the second dose of Astra Zeneca.
Please- get your vaccine. But insist on Pfizer through public health and insist on getting the appointment for dose 2 before you go for dose 1.
Please- avoid Astra Zeneca through the provincial download to pharmacies. It’s a disaster.
And lastly, after the first dose of any covid vaccine still be careful. Four months between doses is an example of rationed health care due to incompetence at high levels of government and not on good medical evidence.
Brenda Begg says
You are spot on. If only I had listened to my gut and cancelled my appointment at pharmacy for AstraZeneca. The next day, my age group became eligible for Pfizer. Now, what do we AstraZeneca 1st dosers do? Very frustrating and upsetting.