The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit reported zero deaths and three new hospitalizations related to COVID in the latest update published March 3.
The health unit reported 74 COVID-19 deaths in January and 47 in February.
There are at least 28 people from the region hospitalized because of COVID-19.
Testing has captured 193 new COVID cases in the region since the last update. Since testing is not available to everyone, case counts are underestimated.
Since the start of the pandemic, the local health unit has confirmed 35,757 cases of COVID-19 with 34,511 of those cases recovered and 412 cases ending in death.
Since July 18, 2021, hospitalizations of Simcoe-Muskoka residents over 11 years old have included 233 fully vaccinated people, 23 partially vaccinated, and 210 unvaccinated people. Of those, 56 unvaccinated, fewer than five partially vaccinated, and 33 fully vaccinated people have been admitted to intensive care units.
In the last six months, 92 fully vaccinated people (at least two doses) and fewer than five partially vaccinated have died after contracting COVID. Over the same time period, 58 unvaccinated people have died after contracting COVID-19.
According to health unit monitoring, about 72 per cent of the region's ICU beds are full, and about 25 per cent of ventilator beds are currently occupied. Occupancy rates are highest for the region's acute care beds with 94 per cent of them currently full.
About 81 per cent of the over-five-year-old population has been fully vaccinated with two or more doses and 15 per cent of the same population group is unvaccinated. (Percentages now based on 2021 census population data.)
There are 13 active outbreaks in Simcoe-Muskoka, down from 22 on Feb. 24, including five in institutional settings (hospitals, long-term care, retirement homes), one in a congregate setting (group homes, shelters), and seven at child care centres.
The health unit is no longer reporting case counts associated with individual outbreaks. A list of outbreaks is available on the health unit website here.
On March 1, the province removed capacity limits and requirements for proof of vaccination for businesses and recreational facilities. Some establishments may choose to require one or both of those measures despite the provincial change. Mask mandates are still in place.
Here's a look at the Ontario COVID update for March 3.
