Today, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) reported two new COVID-19 cases in Huntsville, for a total of 27 in April—the most in a single month since the pandemic began—and one so far in May.
There are 19 active COVID cases in Huntsville while Lake of Bays currently has six.
The newest Huntsville cases are a male aged 45-64 whose case was community acquired and a female aged 18-34 whose case is under investigation.
Of Huntsville’s 27 cases in April, 11 are the result of close contact with another case, eight were community-acquired, three were outbreak-related, and the origin of five is undetermined (the most likely acquisition of illness is not clear and investigation is complete).
Huntsville’s overall case count to date is 118 (19 active); Lake of Bays has had 19 cases to date (six active). None of the Huntsville Lake of Bays cases are in hospital.
Elsewhere in Muskoka, since April 30 the following number of cases have been reported: Muskoka Lakes, five; Bracebridge, six; and Gravenhurst, three.
The health unit is also reporting that one case in Muskoka has been confirmed as the B.1.351 (South African) variant. SMDHU does not reveal in which community variant cases reside.
As of May 3, there have been 120 Muskoka cases reported as the UK B.1.1.7 variant (from March 26, 2021 forward, these cases include those confirmed via whole genome sequencing as well as presumed B.1.1.7 cases based on PCR testing for select mutations of interest), one case that has been confirmed as the Brazilian P.1 variant, one as the South African B.1.351 variant, and an additional 17 that have screened positive for a variant of concern.
There have been a total of 389 cases reported in Muskoka to date (91 of them currently active, two of which are in hospital) and 10,655 in Simcoe County (1,961 active). A total of 225 people in Simcoe Muskoka have died from COVID-19, four of them in Muskoka. (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.)
For more COVID-19 information from the health unit, visit simcoemuskokahealth.org.
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Ralph: Yes, there most definitely is a light at the end of the tunnel. Believe.
This is nothing! Wait until after the May 24th long weekend. Even if the stay at home order is removed or still in place Muskoka will be flooded with ignorant people trying to infect themselves and others..
Expect the 4th wave in June. Maybe if enough receive the vaccine in time it might make a difference?
Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?