A Wasaga Beach man in his 70s who tested positive for COVID-19 has now died, according to Simcoe Muskoka District Public Health Unit (SMDHU)
The man is believed to have contracted the virus through travel to Ecuador. His case was not previously reported by the health unit, which did not update the regional case list until this afternoon at 12:30 p.m.
The man was hospitalized at Collingwood General and Marine Hospital in late March and died on Saturday. Dr. Charles Gardner, medical officer of Health for Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, said the hospital followed PPE protocol and the health unit has not identified any potential cases of exposure in hospital staff.
This is the fifth COVID-19-related death in the region.
There are 98 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Simcoe Muskoka region, and that’s including 10 confirmed cases at Bradford Valley long-term care facility, which is the second long-term care facility outbreak in Simcoe County.
The Bradford Valley residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 are being isolated at the long-term care facility.
The first outbreak was reported at Spencer House in Orillia last week.
The Spencer House outbreak began with one confirmed case in a staff member, and two days later the health unit reported 18 probable cases in staff at the facility, and said the health unit was investigating two deaths and had tested another two residents. Ten of the 18 staff have been tested.
Today, Gardner said none of the tests that have come back have been positive. The health unit is waiting for two more test results.
The two residents who died had “underlying conditions” and are not being considered COVID-19 deaths by the health unit.
“My message always is that people need to practice physical distancing, limit the number of times you go out, and focus on essential items for your trips out,” said Gardner.
He also said if you experience any symptoms, including mild ones, you isolate yourself for 14 days or until you have recovered, whichever is longer.
There are now 29 recoveries reported in the region and 14 people have been hospitalized. The health unit is also reporting five patients have been put under isolation precautions at a long-term care centre in Bradford.
The following is the lab-confirmed case breakdown by community.
Collingwood (2), Barrie (19), Orillia (9), Springwater (4), Clearview (2), New Tecumseth (10), Adjala-Tosorontio (2), Bradford West Gwillimbury (14), Essa (2), Innisfil (3), Wasaga Beach (2) Midland (2), Oro-Medonte (2), Tiny (2), Ramara (2), Gravenhurst (4), Muskoka Lakes (2), and Huntsville (4). The remaining 11 cases have not yet been posted to the website, and no location, age, gender, or transmission data is yet available.
