The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit confirmed three new cases of COVID-19 in Collingwood today.
The cases include a woman between 65 and 79 years old and a woman over the age of 80, both community-acquired case. The third case is a woman over 80 whose case is linked to an institutional outbreak.
Over the weekend, Raglan Village confirmed one resident tested positive for COVID-19 during a round of surveillance testing. As a result, the health unit declared an outbreak in the Raglan Square portion of the Village. The province requires an outbreak declaration with a single confirmed case in a staff or resident at a long-term care or retirement home. Raglan Village reports the individual who tested positive is not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
Collingwood General and Marine Hospital received what they called a "surge" of inpatients last weekend (Dec. 5-6) and, as a result, have put the field hospital, called the Alternative Health Facility, into operation. The extra beds are set up at Collingwood Legion and are being used to care for patients awaiting transfer to another facility. It is not being used to care for COVID-19 positive patients at the moment.
Collingwood and the rest of Simcoe County and Muskoka District is now in the province's red zone as per the COVID-19 Response Framework, which means stricter control measures in place.
Red zone restrictions include a limit of five people indoors or 25 people outdoors for any social gathering or organized public event. Religious services are limited to 30 per cent of the building capacity.
Restaurants cannot have more than 10 patrons seated indoors, and only four people may be seated together. All restaurants must close by 10 p.m. and cannot serve alcohol past 9 p.m.
Sports and fitness facilities must also decrease capacity to 10 participants in an indoor area, including pools and arenas. Team sports cannot be played (including scrimmages or games).
Performing art facilities are closed to spectators.
Those living in red zones are being asked to restrict trips outside the home to essential reasons only, including work, school, groceries/pharmacy, health care, assisting vulnerable individuals, or exercise and physical activity. Families should not visit any other household, states the provincial framework, and everyone should avoid social gatherings.
The province also urges those living in red zones to work remotely, where possible.
Grey Bruce Health Unit, which includes Blue Mountain Resort, the Town of The Blue Mountains, and Grey Highlands, is still in the yellow zone of the provincial framework.
The Town of Collingwood hasn't yet posted closures related to red zone restrictions, and town hall remains open to the public. The town is encouraging residents to abide by the public health measures implemented by the province, and recommended by the local health unit.
The town has already been declining swim registrations and facility bookings from individuals whose primary residence is in a red or grey zone (since Nov. 30). But that policy was put in place when Collingwood and Simcoe-Muskoka region were in orange zone restrictions.
The Collingwood Public Library remains open but with capacity restricted to 10 patrons indoors at a time.
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit area will be in at least red zone restrictions for a minimum of 28 days. The province could impose further measures with its grey/lockdown category earlier, but would not move the area to a lower restriction zone until the 28 days is up.
There are nine active cases in Collingwood, including two people who are hospitalized. There are two active cases in Clearview Township, including one person who is hospitalized. There are six active cases in Wasaga Beach, including one person who is hospitalized.
As of Dec. 13, there is one active case in The Blue Mountains and three active cases in Grey Highlands.
