The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit reported six deaths and three new hospitalizations related to COVID in the latest update published March 1.
All six deaths were Simcoe County residents, including four men between 65 and 79 years old and two women over 79 years old, who died between Feb. 13 and Feb. 26.
The health unit has reported 73 COVID-19 deaths in January and 46 in February.
There are at least 24 people from the region hospitalized because of COVID-19.
Testing has captured 155 new COVID cases in the region since the last update. Since testing is not available to everyone, case counts are underestimated.
Since the start of the pandemic, the local health unit has confirmed 35,404 cases of COVID-19 with 34,124 of those cases recovered and 410 cases ending in death.
Since July 18, 2021, hospitalizations of Simcoe-Muskoka residents over 11 years old have included 233 fully vaccinated people, 23 partially vaccinated, and 210 unvaccinated people. Of those, 56 unvaccinated, fewer than five partially vaccinated, and 33 fully vaccinated people have been admitted to intensive care units.
In the last six months, 92 fully vaccinated people (at least two doses) and fewer than five partially vaccinated have died after contracting COVID. Over the same time period, 58 unvaccinated people have died after contracting COVID-19.
According to health unit monitoring, about 73 per cent of the region's ICU beds are full, and about 29 per cent of ventilator beds are currently occupied. Occupancy rates are highest for the region's acute care beds with more than 88 per cent of them currently full.
About 81 per cent of the over-five-year-old population has been fully vaccinated with two or more doses and 15 per cent of the same population group is unvaccinated. (Percentages now based on 2021 census population data.)
There are 21 active outbreaks in Simcoe-Muskoka, down from 27 on Feb. 21, including nine in institutional settings (hospitals, long-term care, retirement homes), three in congregate settings (group homes, shelters), and nine at child care centres.
The health unit is no longer reporting case counts associated with individual outbreaks. A list of outbreaks is available on the health unit website here.
Collingwood General and Marine Hospital is reporting, as of March 1, there are nine 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.
Today (March 1) the province removed capacity limits and requirements for proof of vaccination for businesses and recreational facilities. Some establishments may choose to require one or both of those measures despite the provincial change. Mask mandates are still in place.
Collingwood General and Marine Hospital is still requiring proof of vaccination for essential caregivers.
Here's a look at the Ontario COVID update for Feb. 28.
Grey-Bruce
On Feb. 28, the Grey Bruce Health Unit reported 13 new COVID cases confirmed through limited testing.
Six people from the region are currently hospitalized because of COVID-19.
On average, over the last seven days, there have been 26 new cases per day.
Since the start of the pandemic, 33 Grey Bruce residents have died in the region and another 10 residents have died while receiving treatment outside the Grey Bruce region.
In Grey and Bruce Counties, about 79 per cent of the eligible population (five and older) has two or more doses of a vaccine. About 17 per cent of those eligible for a vaccine remain unvaccinated.
