Collingwood General and Marine Hospital reported a second lab-confirmed case of COVID-19 today.
According to the hospital, the individual is from the GTA and reported to the hospital’s emergency department on March 13 for testing.
The person, a 54-year-old, was sent home to recover in isolation, and the hospital reports they returned to the GTA.
According to Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU), they are made aware of cases where an individual not living in the region was in the region while positive for COVID-19.
Dr. Charles Gardner, chief medical officer of health for SMDHU, said the health unit deemed there were no individuals who were exposed in this case.
Collingwood General and Marine Hospital has done 69 COVID-19 tests since March 16. The hospital reported its first positive COVID-19 test in a local man in his 50s who had travelled to the USA. He is at home recovering in self-isolation.
In the region, there are now ten confirmed COVID-19 cases, with three being from community transmission or close contact. The latest, reported today, is a New Tecumseth woman in her 60s who had recently travelled to Egypt and Israel. She is self-isolating and was tested at Headwaters Health Care Centre in Orangeville.
The Town of Collingwood announced reduced transit hours today for all town buses. They will be operating on Sunday schedules seven days a week. Transit is currently free, but the town is urging residents to only use buses for essential travel, and not to board a bus with any symptoms of illness.
Today, the number of cases reported by the province of Ontario totalled 503 cases, including six deaths.
Simcoe County paramedics and long-term care staff have been under a ‘concerning’ amount of pressure since the beginning of the outbreak, and are urging members of the public to save 911 calls for urgent/emergency situations. Specifically, paramedics do not offer COVID-19 tests.
Collingwood Out of the Cold announced all shelter occupants have been moved to a motel thanks to funding from the county.
Some Collingwood residents have been cheering on frontline workers by banging pots and pans on their porches or at the end of their driveway together with their neighbours at 7:30 p.m. They’re petitioning more in the community to join in.
Have you found a unique way to stay connected during social distancing? Maybe you (or someone you know) have gone above and beyond to help a neighbour or say thanks — from a safe distance — to essential workers?
There are many seniors stuck at home and missing their grandchildren right now. If your family would like to send them a video message – maybe you could sing a song – you can send it to CollingwoodToday for publication.
Send your photos or videos to [email protected] so we can share ideas as a community.
For more local, provincial, and federal news about COVID-19, click here.
