The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit reported three deaths and seven new hospitalizations related to COVID in the latest update published Feb. 3.
A man and a woman between 45 and 64 years old, both from Simcoe County have died after contracting COVID-19. The woman's case was linked to an outbreak, and she died on Feb. 1. The man died on Feb. 2.
A Muskoka woman over 79 years old is also among the deaths reported today. Her case was linked to an outbreak, and she died on Jan. 12.
There are at least 41 people from the region hospitalized because of COVID-19.
While provincial testing guidelines prioritize testing for Indigenous people, hospitalized patients and people living and working in high-risk congregate care settings, the health unit is reporting 270 new cases today.
Since the start of the pandemic, the local health unit has confirmed 32,324 cases of COVID-19 with 28,969 of those cases recovered and 358 cases ending in death.
Since July 18, 2021, hospitalizations of Simcoe-Muskoka residents over 12 years old have included 163 fully vaccinated people, 18 partially vaccinated, and 187 unvaccinated people over 11 years old. Of those, 50 unvaccinated, fewer than five partially vaccinated, and 23 fully vaccinated people have been admitted to intensive care units.
In the last six months, 53 fully vaccinated people (at least two doses) and fewer than five partially vaccinated have died after contracting COVID. Over the same time period, 42 unvaccinated people have died after contracting COVID-19. All of the deaths have been people over 11 years old.
About 87 per cent of the over-11-year-old population has been fully vaccinated with one or two doses and 11 per cent of the same population group is unvaccinated.
Available capacity at the region's hospitals shows about 65 per cent of acute care unit beds occupied, 68 per cent of ICU beds occupied, and 35 per cent of ventilator beds occupied. The capacity levels include all patients in Simcoe County or Muskoka hospitals.
There are 52 active outbreaks in Simcoe-Muskoka, down from 73 on Friday, including 26 in institutional settings (hospitals, long-term care, retirement homes), six in congregate settings (group homes, shelters), and 20 at child care centres.
