There is one more confirmed case in Simcoe-Muskoka region, bringing the area total to five cases.
The local health unit hasn’t yet released information about this new case, but the province reports it is a male in his 60s who recently travelled to Austria.
The other four include three in Barrie (one confirmed after death) and one in Bradford. One person remains hospitalized at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH), and the other two are home self-isolating.
The Simcoe-Muskoka District Medical Officer of Health Dr. Charles Gardner said the person who died at RVH caught the virus through close contact, and it could be evidence of community transmission beginning in the area.
Collingwood General and Marine Hospital is now using a tented assessment centre to screen all people entering the hospital. The centre is not a testing site, and people should only go to the hospital for a test if they have completed the province’s online assessment tool and are experiencing symptoms.
The County of Simcoe has closed all non-essential services and public buildings.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced further restrictions for non-essential travel across the Canada/USA border and a more than $80 billion stimulus package.
Canadian banks are also offering options for deferring mortgage payments during the pandemic, and customers are encouraged to call their bank to find out what options are available to them.
Canadians are being asked to stay home and self-isolate. Grocery stores in Collingwood remain open, and are encouraging shoppers to practice social-distancing and frequent handwashing.
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