Curve flattening in Simcoe Muskoka with dip in COVID-19 infection rates
Infection rates across Simcoe Muskoka are showing signs of decreasing, something that has the region's associate medical officer of health "pleasantly surprised."
"The numbers are trending in the right direction," says Dr. Colin Lee.
The health unit has reported a consistent decline in weekly cases over the past four weeks; something Lee says he anticipates will continue after the weekend.
"It is dropping, despite people interacting more with each other, and school has been opened for at least a couple of weeks," says Lee.
He attributes the positive numbers to vaccinations and says data shows that Simcoe Muskoka schools have remained relatively safe, now three weeks into the school year.
Lee says transmission within the school environment remains low.
"Not many kids are coming into school with COVID because they are not having much COVID at home or in the community," he explains.
"Even when a student does come in infected with COVID, transmission has really been limited to a handful of instances within the classroom cohort and not between classrooms."
The health unit has declared outbreaks at four schools in the past three weeks, which Lee says is good news.
"It's the best-case scenario we could hope for at this time given that under 12 years of age is still not eligible for immunization," says Lee. "Schools are doing great. Parents are doing great. Students are doing great trying to strike that balance in order to keep the students accessing those activities to maintain their academic, mental and physical health."
Still, Dr. Colin Lee says vigilance remains critical.
With children under the age of 12 not yet eligible to be vaccinated, he says continuing safety measures is important, especially as the cooler weather drives people indoors.
"My advice really is to continue to try to enjoy as much of the outdoors as possible, even if it means wearing more layers and not shorts because autumn is nice outside and because COVID is much more easily transmitted indoors."
He's encouraging everyone to continue to deploy what he calls the three greatest weapons against indoor COVID-19 transmission: vaccinations, masks, and physically distancing when possible.
Lee says the recently introduced provincial vaccination certificate will also prove useful.
"I do urge everyone, including customers and businesses, to be patient and respectful with each other as we all have the same goal with these vaccine certificates is to keep everyone safe and then keep the virus out of businesses that we want to continue to stay open and for us as customers to enjoy."
As for children, Lee is hopeful a vaccine will be approved in Canada for the younger population before the end of the year.
He also noted the 20 per cent of vaccine-eligible residents who have yet to roll up their sleeves for the shot.
"We're working hard to get vaccines to them or bring them to the vaccine," says Lee. "It continues to be readily available in the community."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
developing Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Kinew, Poilievre meet at Manitoba legislature, discuss each other's priorities
Premier Wab Kinew and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre met at the Manitoba legislature Thursday afternoon.
Rainfall warnings of up to 80 mm among weather alerts in effect for 6 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres and other alerts have been issued for six Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.