Simcoe Muskoka confirms 18 cases of highly contagious Delta variant
Daily COVID-19 case counts continue to drop across the region and Ontario as concerns over the contagious Delta variant first detected in India remain high.
On Thursday, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit logged 12 newly reported infections in the past 24 hours. However, the health unit also confirmed three more cases of the Delta B.1.617.2 variant of concern, bringing the region's total Delta case count to 18.
As health officials push to get more shots into arms, Stevenson Memorial Hospital's chief of staff, Dr. Barry Nathanson, says while many residents have received their first dose of a vaccine, it's not enough to relax.
"Data has shown that we don't have excellent protection between the first and second shots," says Dr. Nathanson. "Only after the second shot do we have that kind of protection that can allow us to let our guard down."
The province added Simcoe Muskoka to the hot spot list for the Delta variant, accelerating second doses for adults who had their first before May 30.
While many await their chance to roll up their sleeves for the second time, Dr. Nathanson says evidence shows emerging concerns for increased morbidity associated with the variant and believes it could pose a danger if we're not careful.
"As long as we maintain our non-pharmacological interventions, such as distancing and mask-wearing, etcetera, the Delta variant should be a modest or moderate threat," he adds.
"But because of the principals of geometric multiplication, if the transmissibility were to increase, and if we weren't to be careful, then this could take off pretty quickly," Dr. Nathanson concludes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Spanish prosecutors recommend 2nd investigation into Shakira's taxes be thrown out
Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.