Weekly COVID-19 cases up in Simcoe Muskoka as hospitalizations drop dramatically
Weekly COVID-19 case counts are trending higher in Simcoe Muskoka for the first time in 13 weeks.
"We have noted a bit of a rise in cases right now," said Dr. Charles Gardner. "We don't want that to continue."
Simcoe Muskoka's medical officer of health confirmed Tuesday the region's first week over week case increase in three months as he cautioned residents in the second week of Ontario's Step 3 reopening.
"We still have a substantial proportion of our population that is unvaccinated," the region's top doctor added.
Currently, 68 per cent of residents have had their first vaccine dose, while 54 per cent have had both.
Gardner said children 12 to 17 and adults 18 to 34 were "trailing behind" in getting their shots.
"We, of course, have children under 12 who cannot get vaccinated, so that's enough people who could become cases and transit for us to have at least some degree of surge," he noted.
Gardner did mention that for the first time in 10 months, no COVID-19-positive patients are in the intensive care unit.
Two people are in the hospital being treated for the virus, down from four in the last 24 hours.
Five new COVID-19 cases were reported by the Simcoe Muskoka health unit Tuesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Toxic forever chemicals in drinking water: Is Canada doing enough?
As the United States sets its first national limits on toxic forever chemicals in drinking water, researchers say Canada is lagging when it comes to regulations.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Some customers steaming after McDonald's ends free hot drink sticker program
It took years for Vinnie Deluca to collect more than 400 cards worth of free McDonald's McCafe coffee, a collection that now has "zero value" after the company discontinued the program.
Biden scores endorsements from Kennedy family, looking to shore up support against Trump and RFK Jr.
U.S. President Joe Biden will accept endorsements from at least 15 members of the Kennedy political family during a campaign stop in Philadelphia on Thursday as he aims to undermine Donald Trump and marginalize the candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
When new leaders took over in ancient Maya, they didn't just bury the former royals. They burned their bodies in public
New archeological investigations in Guatemala reveal that the ancient Maya people had a ritual of burning royal human remains as a public display of political regime change.
Party's over: Coyotes play final game as Arizona franchise before move to Salt Lake City
Mullett Arena buzzed like few times in the two years since the Arizona Coyotes moved in, the fans amped for one last desert hurrah.