COVID-19 Update for Partners - March 24, 2022 - Simcoe Muskoka District ...
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COVID-19 Update for Partners
March 24, 2022
Local Issues
Simcoe Muskoka COVID-19 Data
Local Media Updates
Provincial, National and Global COVID-19 Data
Provincial, National Updates
SMDHU Resources
Credible Sources of Information
Local Issues
Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Special Statement
A special statement from MOH Dr. Gardner to those who live, work, and visit Simcoe Muskoka was released
March 23, 2022, strongly recommending that everyone continue to practice public health measures to help
protect themselves and those around them from COVID-19 as the highly transmissible Omicron variant is still
very much present. The statement included, amongst others, the following key messages:
• Although most public safety measures have been lifted in Ontario, Simcoe Muskoka and other areas of
the province are still experiencing a substantial amount of COVID-19 transmission in our communities
and there is the potential for continued increases in transmission in the weeks to come.
• During this time of transition, I ask that everyone be patient, kind and compassionate towards others,
respecting their choices about how they protect themselves and others around them.
• The data is clear, a booster dose also provides better protection from infection and serious illness
compared to the those who only have their primary series. I urge those who are eligible for their
boosters to get them as soon as possible to protect themselves and our community members from
further transmission and serious illness.
• Over the spring and into the summer, it is likely that we will experience a significant reduction in
transmission. We must be aware that new and potentially more transmissible variants of concern of
COVID-19 may arise at any point, and due to its seasonality, it is likely that we will also see some
increased transmission in the coming fall and winter.
• The pandemic has been extremely difficult for us all. However, through our collective and individual
actions we have prevented many more cases, hospitalizations, and deaths from occurring and I
commend and thank the people in Simcoe Muskoka.
Vaccine Clinic Update
• While we continue to operate COVID-19 vaccination clinics in Simcoe Muskoka, the process for doing so
continues to shift. On March 19 we moved to a walk-in model for our COVID-19 community vaccination
clinics. Individuals five years and older can access any of their doses of COVID-19 vaccine, including a
booster dose for those eligible, by walk-in at our community and pop-up clinics, as well as through other
venues that continue to be available in Simcoe Muskoka.
• As of April 1, 2022, community clinics that will remain open are:
o Barrie Georgian Mall – Fridays 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. and Saturdays 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
o Orillia YMCA – Mondays and Wednesdays 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
NOTE: these clinics will be closed Easter weekend and the stat holidays (April 15-18)
1o 29 Sperling Dr. in Barrie (operated by RVH) – Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
This clinic accepts both walk-ins and scheduled appointments that can be booked using
the provincial booking system.
• Other options to get a COVID-19 vaccination quickly and conveniently, include community-based clinics,
pop-up clinics, GOVAXX clinics, pharmacies and other health care providers.
Vaccination - Next steps
• As the health unit begins to transition back to regular programming, we will focus on routine childhood
immunizations and the school immunization program to catch up students who have missed vaccines over
the past two years.
• We are anticipating further direction from the province on the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines going
forward and into Fall 2022, including details about who they will be for and our role in their delivery.
Final Partner Update and future MOH media briefings
In keeping with the approach of the province, we are moving away from publishing Partner Updates and
holding weekly MOH media briefings. As such this will be our last published Partner Update, and future media
briefings will be convened on an as needed basis. The news, information and data you are used to finding in
this publication and hearing through the MOH media briefings will continue to be available to you through the
many links included in the Partner Updates. We recommend you bookmark your favourites for convenient
access. Moving forward we will continue to use all our regular channels of communication to share current and
relevant COVID-19-related information in a timely manner, including through the SMDHU website,
HealthSTATS website, social media, media releases and PSAs, Public Health Alerts, and other channels as
required.
Previous SMDHU MOH media briefings are posted on the SMDHU Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Simcoe Muskoka COVID-19 Data (as of March 23, 2022)
Total Active New Cases* Total Current Vaccinated
Confirmed Cases* Mar Deaths Hospitalizations Residents 5+ with
Cases (% change from March 13-19 (# change from (# change from complete primary series
previous report) (% change from previous week) previous report) (Target 90%)
previous week)
37,445 894* 590* 434 20 82%
(+23%) (+36%) (+3) (-4)
• Weekly case counts increased by 36% compared to the previous week, with 590 cases reported for the
week of March 13 to 19, compared to 433 cases the week of March 6-12.
• Percent positivity has increased locally over the last two weeks, increasing to 12.6% in Simcoe County and
13.6% in Muskoka. The current percent positivity remains higher than any other time since the beginning
of the pandemic, excluding the peak of the current wave due to the Omicron variant.
• Recent wastewater samples show a slight increasing trend in Barrie, while samples from Midland,
Collingwood, and Orillia suggests the recent trend of decline has stabilized indicating community
transmission is continuing at its current level rather than continuing to decline.
• Of the 20 people with COVID-19 who are currently hospitalized in Simcoe Muskoka, 4 are in ICU.
• In Simcoe Muskoka unvaccinated people (12+) are 4 times more likely to be hospitalized, 8 times more
likely to be admitted to the ICU and 3 times more likely to die from COVID-19 compared to people who
have at least two doses of vaccine (data from July 18, 2021 – March 22, 2022).
• There are currently 23 active COVID-19 outbreaks in Simcoe Muskoka (5 more than a week ago), with 9 in
institutional settings, 10 in congregate settings, and 4 in educational settings.
More local data is available at: SMDHU COVID-19 HealthSTATS page and the COVID-19 Monitoring Dashboard.
* Limited testing eligibility results in fewer confirmed cases being captured. Readers are cautioned that the number of COVID-19 cases
reported underestimates the true number of cases in the community.
2Local Media Updates (Since March 17, 2022)
• Health unit 'taking stock' and striking balance to return pre-COVID programs (article)
• Simcoe Muskoka health unit turning focus to non-COVID-related tasks — like the opioid crisis (article)
• SMDHU top doctor issues special statement urging continued health measures (article)
• Simcoe Muskoka health unit’s top doc issues ‘special statement’ after ‘substantial’ spike in cases (article)
• Suspended doc's lawyer says client targeted for COVID-related medical exemptions (article)
• Lack of pandemic info leaves columnist blowing in the wind (column)
• Mask mandate drops but many people in Barrie remain cautious (article)
• COLUMN: Exiting pandemic presents some new challenges (column)
• Barrie businesses, residents react to end of mask mandate (article)
• COVID-19 vaccination clinics in Simcoe Muskoka moving to walk-ins only (article)
• Ontario's lifting of mask mandates is a cynical, unscientific move in an election year (opinion)
• 'There’s still a worry': Simcoe County reactions to removal of mask requirement in schools (article)
Provincial, National and Global COVID-19 Data
Ontario (as of March 24, 2022)
Total Active* New Cases* Total Current Vaccination of
Cases Cases in the last 7 days Deaths Hospitalizations Ontarians (5+) with
(% change from (% change from (change from (change from complete primary series
previous week) previous week) previous week) previous week) (target 90%)
1,145,575 16,831* 13,471* 12,356 611 86%
(+9%) (+11%) (+49) (-33)
• Health unit areas with the highest rate of active cases per 100,000 population are Northwestern (769),
Algoma (495), Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (392), Porcupine (330), and Sudbury (247).
• From March 8-14 to March 14-20, Ontario health unit regions experiencing the highest weekly increase
in case rates include: Simcoe Muskoka (+50%), Wellington Dufferin Guelph (+24%), Hastings Prince
Edward (+21%), Timiskaming (21%), Windsor-Essex (+15%), and Southwestern (15%).
• The daily provincial percent of tests with positive result (percent positivity) is 13.3%, an increase from
the previous report (14 days), continuing to be higher than any other time during the pandemic. This is
an important indicator of community spread due to limited testing eligibility.
• Although cases across all ages have declined since the peak of the last wave, in the past reporting week
(March 13-19), increases were seen among adults 20-39 years of age and adults over 60 years of age,
with the largest increase (+12.9%) in people 80 years and older.
• In Ontario, unvaccinated individuals are 5 times more likely to be hospitalized and 10 times more likely to
be a patient in intensive care compared with people who are fully vaccinated.
• According to the most recent Public Health Ontario COVID-19 Vaccine Surveillance Update (with data up
to March 13th): 82% of Ontarians have their primary series and 48% have completed the primary series
and received a booster. The report estimates that 55% of children 5 to 11 years have had their first dose
of vaccine and 36% have completed their primary series.
• Of those people currently in hospital and ICU with COVID-19, 46% and 70% respectively were admitted
for COVID-19-related reasons.
• For more provincial data, see Ontario COVID-19 case data, Public Health Ontario Data Tool, Ontario
Science Table dashboard, PHO Weekly Epidemiological Summary (March 13 – Mar 19) (link)
* The number of provincial active and new cases should be interpreted with caution due to the limited eligibility for PCR testing. Readers
are cautioned that the number of active and new COVID-19 cases reported is an underestimate of the true number of cases in Ontario.
3Canada (as of March 24, 2022)
Total Cases Active Cases* New Cases* Total Deaths Vaccination of
(includes confirmed (% change from in the last 7 days (change from Canadians 5+
and probable cases) previous report) (% change from previous week) with complete
previous report) primary series
(as of March 13, 2022)
3,419,779 126,814* 36,859* 37,286 85%
(+13%) (-2%) (+224)
Key epidemiological highlights from March 6-12:
• The average number of daily cases reported decreased nationally, which was also reflected in B.C.,
Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, while average weekly cases increased in Newfoundland, New
Brunswick, and Yukon, and remained the same in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Prince Edward
Island.
• The weekly percentage of positive tests increased to 13.4%. This is an important indicator of community
spread due to limited testing eligibility.
• While the rate of weekly COVID-19 related hospitalizations, ICU admissions decreased compared to the
previous week, the weekly number of deaths increased 9% with 385 deaths reported.
• Though all hospitalization rates are declining, rates continue to be highest among unvaccinated
individuals and lowest among individuals fully vaccinated with an additional dose. National data
comparing infection and hospitalization rates by vaccination status (Jan 30–Feb 27) show:
o the rate of infection among unvaccinated people was 2 times higher than in those who are fully
vaccinated and fully vaccinated with an additional dose.
o among youth and adults aged 12 to 59 years, unvaccinated people were 3 times more likely to
be hospitalized with COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people, and 6 times more likely to be
hospitalized than people fully vaccinated with an additional dose.
o among older adults aged 60 years or older, unvaccinated people were 4 times more likely to be
hospitalized with COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people, and 13 times more likely to be
hospitalized than people fully vaccinated with an additional dose.
• Omicron accounted for 99% of all screened cases, with the BA1.1 and BA.2 subvariants increasing, while
BA.1 continues to decline.
• For more national data, see: COVID-19 daily epidemiology update, Canada COVID-19 Weekly
Epidemiology Report (Feb 20-26).
* The number of national active cases and new cases should be interpreted with caution due to jurisdictional changes in COVID-19 testing
eligibility resulting in an underreporting of cases.
Global (as of 5:51 CET, March 23, 2022)
Total Confirmed Cases New Weekly Cases Total Deaths
(% change from 2 weeks) (change from previous week)
472,816,657 12,625,563 6,099,380
(+9%) (+32,239)
• Globally, cases have increased 20% over the last two weeks.
• In the last week the highest number of cases and deaths were reported in: Korea, Viet Nam, Germany,
France, the United Kingdom, and Italy.
For more international data, see: WHO COVID-19 Disease Dashboard and WHO weekly epidemiological and
Operational Updates.
4Provincial, National Updates (since March 10, 2022)
Provincial Updates
Ontario Government:
• Provincial Testing and Isolation Information Line toll-free line available as a resource to help answer
questions from the public regarding evolving COVID-19 testing and isolation guidance. Call 1-888-777-
0730, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday to Sunday.
• Ministry of Health released: COVID-19 integrated Testing & Case, Contact and Outbreak Management
Interim Guidance: Omicron Surge (version 3) (link)
Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table:
• Update on COVID-19 Projections (link)
Public Health Ontario:
• Omicron Disease Severity – What We Know So Far (link)
• Update on Approach to Adapting Public Health Measures in Schools (link)
• Omicron Variant Sub-lineage BA.2: Evidence and Risk Assessment (up to date as of March 8, 2022) (link)
• Vaccine Uptake in Ontario: December 14, 2020 to March 13, 2022 (link)
• Confirmed Cases Following Vaccination in Ontario: December 14, 2020 to March 13, 2022 (link)
• Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFIs) in Ontario: December 13, 2020 to March 13, 2022 (link)
• COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Homes: Focus on February 27 to March 12, 2022 (link)
• COVID-19 Cases with Severe Outcomes: December 12, 2021 to March 12, 2022 (link)
• SARS-CoV-2 Whole Genome Sequencing in Ontario, March 15, 2022 (link)
• Recommendations: COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses for Adolescents (link)
• Cohorting During an Outbreak of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Homes (link)
• How to self-isolate while working: Recommendations for Health Care Workers (link)
National Updates
Government of Canada:
• UN Research Roadmap guides investments in research to support global recovery from pandemic (link)
• Chief Public Health Officer, March 18, 2022 (statement, remarks)
• Indigenous Services Canada COVID-19 update - Week of March 17, 2022 (link)
• Health Canada authorizes use of the Moderna Spikevax (50 mcg) vaccine in children 6 to 11 (link)
• Government of Canada will remove pre-entry test requirement for fully vaccinated on April 1 (link)
• Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada on March 11, 2022 (link)
• Statement from the Minister of Health on Canada’s second National Day of Observance for COVID-19 (link)
• Statement from the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions on Canada’s Second National Day of
Observance for COVID-19 (link)
SMDHU Resources
Recent updates and changes to the SMDHU website:
COVID-19 Main Page (link)
• Special Statement to the Community from Dr. Charles Gardner, Medical Officer of Health - March 23 (link)
• COVID-19 fact sheet: Symptoms, testing & isolation requirements – revised March 13 (link)
• Taking care of your mental health (link)
• Mental health support (link)
• Personal protective actions (link)
• Continue to wear a face mask (link)
5Get Vaccinated
• Community and pop-up walk-in clinic schedules (link)
• Other local vaccination options (link)
Business, partners and municipalities
• COVID-19 public health guidance for businesses and organizations – Roadmap Exit Step (link)
• Wearing masks and face coverings in indoor spaces (link)
• Personal service settings (link)
• Taxi and rideshare drivers (link)
Going to school during COVID-19 (link)
SMDHU Health Connection:
• You can contact Health Connection by phone (705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520) or email using our online
form. Health Connection hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please only call or
submit your inquiry once.
• If you have a health concern, call your health care provider or Telehealth 1-866-797-0000.
Credible Sources of Information
• Ontario Ministry of Health
• Public Health Ontario
• Centre for Effective Practice COVID-19 Resource Centre
• Government of Canada
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• World Health Organization
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