'I just couldn't believe it,' Friends shocked by vaccinated Oro-Medonte man's death
The death of an Oro-Medonte man who became infected with COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated sent shock waves among those who knew him.
"When I heard it, I just couldn't believe it," said Craig Adlam.
Garry Weston, 75, likely contracted the virus while playing hockey in Adlam's Newmarket men's league one month ago.
Adlam said he and Weston had been friends for 41 years, so when Weston texted him about having the sniffles, his longtime friend didn't think much of it.
"I wrote him a text back and said, you're strong, Garry, you've battled everything your whole life. You're going to get through this," Adlam recalled.
Related article: Fully vaccinated Ontario man dies after COVID-19 sweeps through his hockey league
Players in Adlam's league started falling ill on Oct. 5. York Region Public Health was notified about the situation.
In all, 15 players tested positive.
Weston returned to the sport he loved, became infected, and suffered a stroke while battling pneumonia brought on by COVID-19.
"The guys go play hockey after 19 months off, figure oh, everything is good, and the first night, four, five guys get it," Adlam said.
York Region's acting medical officer of health believes one of the players had an infection while playing and it spread to multiple others.
BREAKTHROUGH CASES ON THE RISE
Simcoe Muskoka's associate medical officer of health cautions that while the shot is "very effective," it's not 100 per cent effective.
As more breakthrough cases are reported, health experts encourage residents to continue practicing health measures, like masking, hand washing, and keeping a safe distance, with 82 per cent of eligible Simcoe Muskoka residents now fully vaccinated.
Dr. Colin Lee said tragic cases, such as Weston's, are rare among those double vaccinated, but older people are more susceptible to complications.
Meanwhile, the province continues to ease restrictions as more people get double dosed.
Capacity limits started lifting at recreational centres and outdoor facilities across the region.
Dr. Lee assures residents that the "vast majority of the time, it's going to be very, very safe."
"But, on the rare occasion, if you're older, if you're immune-compromised, your risk of being infected, despite being immunized, is greater," he added.
Adlam said about half a dozen players in his hockey league have now bowed out as everyone grieves the loss of their friend.
"He was always the life of the party," Adlam said of Weston. "He was the elder statesman of this league, and we all looked up to him."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Record-breaking N.B. lottery winner kept winning ticket on dresser for nearly a year
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for 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.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.