There are no new COVID cases reported in Collingwood today. The last and only remaining active case was reported on July 20.
The town announced it will be reinstating transit fares starting Monday, July 27. Colltrans will continue to run on a Sunday schedule and The Blue Mountains Link will run on its regular schedule. You'll need to pay fares for both next week. Bus passes are available at the Collingwood Public Library and at town hall.
Town hall is also reopening for the public on a limited schedule with service at the front desk available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Collingwood Public Library opened its doors for the first time since March today, for some in-person service. There are public computers now available for 30-minute sessions, and you can pick up material at the check out counter. More on the library services here.
As per the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit order, masks are required on public transit and inside public buildings.
Canadian Blood Services released initial results of some antibody testing it completed on 10,000 samples of donated blood. The early results showed fewer than one per cent of donors had antibodies for COVID-19. The region's medical officer of health Dr. Charles Gardner said that result tracks with other seroprevalence testing done in countries around the world, and noted it is both an indicator of the success of public health measures and further reason to continue to practice physical distancing, handwashing, and wearing a mask indoors.
Ontario reported 195 new cases of COVID-19 today, as well as three deaths. The province passed 18 pieces of legislation earlier this week, which will allow emergency orders to remain in place for a year, even when the declaration of the state of emergency has ended.
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit has reported a slight surge in cases recently with 35 cases reported in the last 10 days. The health unit reported two new cases and an outbreak at a Penetanguishene retirement home today.
Dr. Gardner said he's seen some evidence of complacency from people not adhering to public health recommendations of physical distancing, keeping an exclusive social circle of ten or fewer people, and wearing a mask indoors. He urged members of the public to keep up physical distancing, handwashing, mask-wearing indoors, and to self-isolate and seek testing if they experience any symptoms of COVID.
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit has reported a total of 16 lab-confirmed cases in Collingwood residents, 15 of those have since been reported recovered. There have been no deaths of Collingwood residents related to COVID-19.
In The Blue Mountains, the total case count for the municipality has remained at five since May as well. All cases in The Blue Mountains are now reported recovered.
In Wasaga Beach, the last case was reported on June 19. Fourteen Wasaga cases have been reported recovered and one person has died.
In Clearview Township, the last case was reported on June 15, and seven of eight cases have recovered. One person has died.
