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SMDHU Issues Strict Warning To Residents About Visiting Others

Laura Hampshire
Jan 27, 2021 | 8:16 AM
Last Updated: Jan 27, 2021 | 6:25 PM

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SMDHU Issues Strict Warning To Residents About Visiting Others

SMDHU



The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is warning residents that if people don’t follow the public safety guidelines, more people will die from COVID-19.

Our Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Charles Gardner, said yesterday that now is NOT the time to be visiting others.

He says that includes friends, children, grandchildren and especially, grandparents. Please listen to his comments below.

Gardner says the rapid spread of COVID-19 variants in the community is extremely concerning and must be brought under control quickly.

So far, over 100 cases of the COVID 19 variant have been confirmed by the SMDHU, including Roberta Place Long-Term Care Home in Barrie, where 46 people have died, and the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health in Penetanguishene.

What we know about COVID-19 variants

It is common for viruses to change as they spread through the population. Three variants have been detected around the world:

  • The United Kingdom (UK) variant, called B.1.1.7 is the most common variant worldwide at this time, and has been detected in Canada and is the one we have now seen locally.
  • A South African variant called 1.351 that has been detected in Alberta and British Columbia.
  • A Brazilian variant called P.1 , that has not yet been detected in Canada.

Experts are studying how the virus is changing by understanding the genetic make-up of the virus. This will help us understand how changes to the virus might affect how it spreads and what happens to people who are infected with it.

What we know about United Kingdom (UK) variant (B.1.1.7)

  • This variant was first detected in the UK in September 2020 and is now widespread in London and southeast England. It has since been detected in numerous countries around the world, and more recently in Ontario (Durham region, London and Simcoe Muskoka).
  • The UK variant appears to spread more easily and quickly than other variants.
  • At this time both Pfizer and Moderna have said their COVID-19 vaccines is thought to be effective against the B.1.1.7 variant. This is likely because the part of the virus that has changed doesn’t impact upon how the vaccines works.

What we do not know

  • How widely this new variant has spread in our community. The health unit is continuing to investigate.
  • How the illness caused by the new variants differs from the illness caused by other variants that are currently circulating.
  • How these variants affect existing therapies and vaccines

Is there anything I can do differently to protect myself?

It is even more important that public health safety measures to stop the spread are followed because this variant appears to spread more easily and quickly.

For the latest information on COVID-19 in Simcoe County and Muskoka, please visit the SMDHU website, by clicking here. You can find details on outbreaks, local cases, complaints, enforcement, and more.

https://www.facebook.com/Simcoe.Muskoka/videos/3610911892318809

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