There are three lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Collingwood residents.
One man in his 50s has now recovered. A man in his 30s and another man in his 50s are currently self-isolating.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) is reporting there are 115 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the region. Today’s update also noted there was a new case confirmed in Wasaga Beach. The woman in her 70s is self isolating and is believed to have transmitted the virus through close contact with another case. She is the third confirmed case in Wasaga Beach.
According to Dr. Charles Gardner, medical officer of health for SMDHU, the province has now broadened its criteria for who should receive a COVID-19 swab test.
The new criteria from the province includes testing anyone in a long-term care facility with symptoms as well as anyone in contact with them (residents and staff) regardless if they have symptoms.
"The move toward testing people under those conditions without symptoms is a key change," said Gardner.
He said the province is also stating first responders and health care workers can be tested if they are showing any symptoms.
"We're stating to the assessment centres ... if they have capacity ... we support them doing more testing [beyond the province's guidelines]," said Gardner.
Ontario has reported an additional 483 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 and has now reported 20 deaths in the province attributed to the virus.
Collingwood Transit will not be running on Good Friday (April 10) or Easter Sunday (April 12). Local transit has been running on a reduced schedule (approximately 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and will continue to run on the Sunday schedule on days not including Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Yesterday Collingwood council met to discuss COVID-19 relief efforts, but couldn’t agree on a proposal to offer interest-free six-month loans (up to $10,000) to local businesses, and voted to send the plan back to staff for review.
Collingwood seniors have been staying home, but some have been forced to give up rather busy social calendars. Here’s how they’re adapting with the use of new technologies and old comforts.
A Collingwood sail maker has adapted his skills and his workshop to make face masks and face shields for local nursing homes. You can read more about Ken Forsyth’s designs here.
Have questions about COVID-19? We’ve published answers to some frequently asked questions. You can read them here.
