44 Simcoe-Muskoka residents currently hospitalized for COVID

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit reported zero deaths and four new hospitalizations related to COVID in the latest update published Feb. 9.

The health unit has reported 71 COVID-19 deaths in January and 16 in February.

There are at least 44 people from the region hospitalized because of COVID-19.

While provincial testing guidelines prioritize testing for Indigenous people, hospitalized patients and people living and working in high-risk congregate care settings, the health unit is reporting 149 new cases. 

Since the start of the pandemic, the local health unit has confirmed 33,078 cases of COVID-19 with 30,896 of those cases recovered and 378 cases ending in death. 

The health unit reported increased occupancy at the region's hospital with about 86 per cent of ICU beds, 90 per cent of acute care beds, and 68 per cent of ventilator beds now full. Capacity rates include all beds at hospitals in Simcoe County and Muskoka District and all patients, including those who are hospitalized for a reason other than COVID-19. 

Since July 18, 2021, hospitalizations of Simcoe-Muskoka residents over 11 years old have included 181 fully vaccinated people, 18 partially vaccinated, and 193 unvaccinated people. Of those, 54 unvaccinated, fewer than five partially vaccinated, and 27 fully vaccinated people have been admitted to intensive care units. 

In the last six months, 71 fully vaccinated people (at least two doses) and fewer than five partially vaccinated have died after contracting COVID. Over the same time period, 48 unvaccinated people have died after contracting COVID-19. All of the deaths have been people over 11 years old.

About 87 per cent of the over-11-year-old population has been fully vaccinated with two or more doses and 11 per cent of the same population group is unvaccinated.

There are 40 active outbreaks in Simcoe-Muskoka, down from 54 on Feb. 1, including 22 in institutional settings (hospitals, long-term care, retirement homes), six in congregate settings (group homes, shelters), and 12 at child care centres.  

There are two active outbreaks in Collingwood long-term care/retirement homes. 

• Balmoral Retirement Home 
  • one outbreak declared Jan. 17 with nine resident cases and seven staff cases 
• Bay Haven Care Community
  • one outbreak declared Feb. 5 with fewer than five resident cases.

Collingwood General and Marine Hospital is reporting, as of Feb. 9, there are three COVID-positive inpatients at the hospital. This can include people admitted because of COVID and those hospitalized for other reasons who also test positive for COVID. 

Grey-Bruce

On Feb. 8, the Grey Bruce Health Unit reported 23 new COVID cases confirmed through limited testing, with 10 people from the region currently hospitalized. 

Since the start of the pandemic, 29 Grey Bruce residents have died in the region and another ten residents have died while receiving treatment outside the Grey Bruce region. That's an including three new deaths reported by the health unit today.

As of Feb. 8, lab testing confirmed 5,773 cases in Grey Bruce since the start of the pandemic with 5,563 recoveries. 

There are four long-term care/retirement homes with active COVID outbreaks in the region including: 

• Rockwood Terrace Long Term Care – Durham
• Kelso Pines Retirement Home in Owen Sound
• Maple Court Retirement Home in Walkerton 
• Grey Gables Long-Term Care in Markdale

In Grey and Bruce Counties, about 50 per cent of the eligible population has received three or more doses of a COVID vaccine, and another 28 per cent of the eligible population has two doses of a vaccine. About 18 per cent of those eligible for a vaccine remain unvaccinated in the region.