Today, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) reported two new COVID-19 cases in Huntsville, adding to four others reported over the holidays.
One of the six cases is listed as part of an institutional outbreak at Roger’s Cove, a 45-64 year-old female. An outbreak is declared in an institutional setting if there is even one positive test associated with the location, and could be a resident, staff member, volunteer, or third-party supplier.
Two of the cases are associated with an educational setting outbreak, a 35-44 year-old male and a 0-17 year-old male. The only Huntsville-area school listed with an outbreak is Spruce Glen Public School; the school released a notice on Dec. 27 to notify the community about a confirmed case.
The other three cases reported since Dec. 24 are a 0-17 year-old male, a 0-17 year-old female, and a 35-44 year-old female, all close contacts of other confirmed cases.
There has also been a new case reported in Lake of Bays, a 45-64 year-old female whose case is under investigation.
There were 14 laboratory-confirmed cases reported for Huntsville in December, the most in a single month since the pandemic began.
Of the 44 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Huntsville to date, 11 are active. Two people have died from the disease. More than half (25) have occurred in the past three months. In Lake of Bays, there have been five cases in total, one of which is currently active.
There have been a total of 152 cases reported in Muskoka to date (40 of them currently active) and 3,669 in Simcoe County. (For a full list of Huntsville and Lake of Bays cases to date, and other COVID-19 updates for the area, visit our COVID-19 page.)
Premier Ford announced on December 21 that there will be a province-wide shutdown as of Dec. 26. Health unit regions in Southern Ontario, of which Simcoe Muskoka is part, will be required to follow shutdown measure for 28 days.
[Related: Here’s what the province’s shutdown means for Muskoka]
For more COVID-19 information from the health unit, visit simcoemuskokahealth.org.
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Ray Vowels says
It’s crazy that Muskoka is shut down with Simcoe . Over 3669 cases in Simcoe compared to 154 in all of Mukoka makes no sense at all that we have the same restrictions . I just feel sorry for all of our business owners that are trying there best to get though these crazy times with very little if any help from Govt. All the towns in Muskoka are sure going to miss the taxes if these small business owners don’t make it.
Bill Beatty says
These latest round of infections don’t bode well for a scheduled release from lockdown . More effort needed folks !
Brenda Begg says
Re Ray Vowels, January 5: There is a positive for Huntsville being under Simcoe Muskoka Health Unit. If we weren’t in lockdown chances are we’d have an influx of people coming here from areas with high Covid cases to shop, visit, and/or use recreational facilities. Surely we don’t want that at this time. The lockdown may encourage people to stay home or at least stay within their own communities. This is not the time for taking calculated risks to visit family and friends. I agree, though, that it’s rough on small businesses. We need them. They are a vibrant part of our town.
Mr. Beatty is quite right; “…more effort needed folks” (folks everywhere) to avoid an extended lockdown, deaths, and an overcrowded hospital.
Tom Greenberg says
Lockdown helped in keeping the number of patients low. But more efforts are needed by people as well as authorities to control the spread. Individuals should follow all the guidelines, and authorities should ensure that rules are being followed. There is a risk of new strain as well. Thank you for providing details.