There is now evidence of community spread of COVID-19 in the Simcoe Muskoka region, with at least one case confirmed in a woman from Bradford who is hospitalized in serious condition.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) announced the case yesterday, saying the woman had no previous travel experience or contact with anyone who had travelled.
That announcement came paired with news of another death in the region in a second man in his 70s who was hospitalized at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH). The hospital confirmed he was related to the first man who died of the disease at the same hospital on March 11.
“This does speak to the seriousness of COVID-19 as an infection,” stated Dr. Charles Gardner, the health unit’s chief medical officer of health. “It speaks to the significance of the pandemic and importance of measures of social distancing.”
Collingwood General and Marine Hospital has received results for one confirmed case (reported March 20) and no more have since been reported.
SMDHU said today they would not be updating the confirmed case list on their website until Monday. So far, there are nine cases reported in the region, two are hospitalized, two have died, and the rest are at home recovering in self-isolation.
“I want to emphasize the importance of everybody taking very seriously the pandemic,” said Dr. Gardner, again petitioning the public to isolate themselves, exercise social distancing when they are out, and to wash their hands frequently.
Ontario’s ministry of health announced today there were another 47 confirmed cases since yesterday, bringing the provincial total to 424.
According to the health unit website, social distancing includes avoiding non-essential trips in the community, working from home.
“You can still go outside to take a walk, go to the park, or walk your dog,” states the SMDHU website. “If you need groceries, go to the store. We simply recommend that while outside you make sure to avoid crowds and maintain a distance of two metres from those around you.”
Other measures recommended for your protection - and the protection of others - including washing your hands often with soap and water, sneezing and coughing into your sleeve, avoiding any face touching, staying at home when you’re sick, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects.
For more on the symptoms and ways to protect yourself and others during the pandemic, visit the SMDHU website.
In national news, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today the House of Commons would reconvene at noon on Tuesday, March 24 to pass emergency legislation. He also had a special message for the children of Canada.
If you’d like to know more about national, provincial, and local news concerning COVID-19, visit the CollingwoodToday page dedicated to virus news here.
