A letter from Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit medical officer of health, Dr. Charles Gardner
To the people whose work and businesses were affected by the lockdown in Simcoe Muskoka:
The province has announced that Simcoe Muskoka is moving back into the Red-Control zone within the province’s COVID-19 Framework, effective Monday, March 8 at 12:01 a.m. The return to Red-Control on March 8, as well as the move to Grey-Lockdown one week ago, are in keeping with recommendations that I provided to the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams. My recommendation of a return to Red-Control is based on information that our overall incidence of COVID-19 has remained stable over the past two weeks despite the rise in the B.1.1.7 (UK) variant.
It is important to remember that with large numbers of the B.1.1.7 variant cases in Simcoe Muskoka, and with the rise in Variants of Concern throughout the province, we may see an increase in the incidence of COVID-19 in the weeks to come, and the potential need for further protective measures in the future. The potential for a third wave in Ontario due to the Variants of Concern has been noted by the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory TableOntario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table to be significant. As such, it is of critical importance that we be diligent in maintaining our public health measures. I will continue to monitor very closely our local situation, and early next week I will be bringing forward additional infection prevention and control
measures to reduce transmission risk in workplaces and in the community.
We have a very large number of cases and outbreaks of the B.1.1.7 variant in Simcoe Muskoka. This started with three outbreaks of the B.1.1.7 variant in January, which has been followed by rapid spread throughout Simcoe County (including in Barrie) and the District of Muskoka. We have seen many workplace outbreaks (including restaurants, a personal service setting, offices, manufacturing, and an agricultural setting), long-term care facilities, a childcare centre, a school, and an apartment complex.
There have also been a large and growing number of cases in the community that are unattached to outbreaks. We have the highest number of the variants of concern cases in Ontario.
In continuing to relay the basis upon which recent recommendations where made, I wish to reiterate that early in the week of February 21, I became concerned as a result of the 30 per cent increase in Simcoe Muskoka’s overall COVID-19 case count in the previous week (210 cases the week of February 7 to 275 cases the week of February 14), including a doubling of the weekly case count in Barrie, coinciding with the continued spread of the B.1.1.7 variant in our communities. On this basis, I recommended to the province that Simcoe Muskoka be moved into Grey-Lockdown in order to help reduce the spread of the B.1.1.7 variant and COVID-19 overall, with the recognition that early control actions are more effective than later ones. I did so even though the overall case count for COVID-19 was only moderately elevated above the threshold for the Red-Control zone, as the province’s Framework does not take into account the potential impact of the UK variant.
Since then, we have continued to monitor the data on COVID-19 cases, and we found some reduction in the overall daily incidence in the latter part of last week and stabilization of the overall incidence of cases through this week (February 28 to March 5); however, we have had some additional B.1.1.7 variant outbreaks in workplaces and additional cases in our communities. [See data here.]
I wish to thank those who have reached out to me and provide me with their insights. The concerns raised included impacts of the Lockdown on businesses, income, health and mental health, and access to services. I regret the difficulty that is caused by our response to the pandemic, even as we strive to reduce the illness and the deaths that occur from this tragic pandemic. The pandemic has been extremely difficult on us all.
I would like to cite the great potential to bring the pandemic under control with immunization. At present we have immunized the residents of all of our long-term care facilities and retirement homes, and this is resulting in a great reduction in transmission and deaths among the most vulnerable members of our communities. As we move forward with bringing vaccination to all adults and we continue with case and contact management and observing public heath measures, I am confident that we will bring the pandemic under control.
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June Banks says
I have a question, ,my husband is 86 and has Alzheimer’s, he got his vaccine this week, l as his caregiver could not as l am 83. My friend in Barrie in a retirement home has had both her shots, as have her 2 daughters, that visit once a week, one living locally and one in another district. How is this a safe situation or fair. Barrie is in the same district as Huntsville and all over 80 are getting their shots, how about Muskoka.
Ron Baker says
Can a person who has been vaccinated still be an asymptomatic carrier of the COVID virus and its variants? If so why is this not publicized?
Thank you
Bob Vtech says
It has nothing to do with being safe or fair. Its a political decision.
The virus carrier under the privacy law has the right to remain anonymous.
All we can do is cross our fingers and hope or the best!
James Rockwell says
A real shame our elected leaders can’t make a decision one way or the other…. Wish the provincial government would start treating the pandemic as a health crisis, not a political issue. After 12 months all we have to show for it is absolute proof that we have an inept provincial government. Sad state of affairs..
Lynn Bennett says
Every 5 years like you I get myself off to the ServiceOntario office, line up, get a number, wait to be called to the counter, and have my photo taken — the process of renewing our Health Card.
Why are we not using this system in partnership with e-Health Ontario to prioritize (they have our health records) and book every citizen’s vaccine appointment? As taxpayers, we have invested BILLIONS in these technologies!!! Where are they now? And, why are we not putting them to use?
Ford and his team are failing every one of us. My 85-year old mother called and went online to book her appointment in Simcoe Muskoka on the day they opened up and while we are very happy her friends have gotten their shots she is still to get an email or a call to tell her when she will receive hers.
This could have been oh so simple — an automated outbound call from our government vs. her trying to get through to a call centre that kept disconnecting her or attempting to bring up a website that kept crashing!
While we have been struggling through lockdowns and watching our local business shutter, Ford has had at least 8 months to figure out a booking system and test it — sorry FOLKS and FRIENDS they are proving every day they are not up to the job!
Phil Beacock says
Some points to ponder! We need to stay at home and lessen contacts if we do need to go out! The world is in a state of learn as we go! We need vaccines and we have done a bad job at procuring them and that’s that! The province has in my opinion done a good job all things considered! We have a country that is huge, sparsely populated in some the most remote spots in the world. So I would like to say. Have less contacts, wash your hands, and let’s be positive here. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Reach out make a phone call let your love ones know you care! Safe day to all first responders and those out there making it work!