Three COVID-19 cases logged in Simcoe County
The Simcoe Muskoka health unit logged three positive COVID-19 tests on Wednesday, two in Barrie and one in Collingwood.
The number of active infections in the region has dropped to 22. Four infected patients are in local hospitals.
To date, 12,339 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic started. Since that time, 12,062 people recovered, while 255 Simcoe Muskoka residents lost their lives after contracting the virus.
The health unit reported roughly 40 positive cases over the past two weeks, with daily case counts not recorded since August 2020.
Still, Simcoe Muskoka's medical officer of health said that without getting local vaccination rates up, there is a risk of the virus increasing in the fall.
"Coronavirus types such as COVID-19 are seasonal by nature tend to surge more in the colder months that come, so I think the true test for us will be from September onward," said Dr. Charles Gardner.
So far, over 700,000 doses of the vaccine have gone into the arms of residents, but Gardner said that's not enough with the Delta variant threat.
The region's top doctor said 90 per cent vaccination coverage would likely be required "to have true herd immunity."
COVID-19 CASES IN ONTARIO
Meanwhile, the province marks the 13th straight day with less than 200 new infections.
On Wednesday, 135 cases were logged, plus four deaths related to the virus.
The province reports 139 patients are currently hospitalized with COVID-19.
Most cases reported across Ontario were in Toronto, Peel Region and Durham Region.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.