COVID-19 update: No new cases at Stayner Care Centre

Tests have come back from Stayner Care Centre indicating there are no new cases of COVID-19, reported Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Charles Gardner in his weekly media briefing Tuesday.
“Which is very good news,” said Gardner. “We’ve done testing of everyone at the facility and they’ve come back negative.”
The Stayner long-term health care facility was declared to be in outbreak June 18 after one staff member tested positive. (Update: the outbreak was declared over on July 6.)
Gardner’s other news was less optimistic, with cases in Simcoe County on a slight rise and workplace outbreaks declared at unidentified farms, and a food processing plant. He said the name of workplaces are not released, unless there is a need to reach the wider community outside of the employee list.
Testing of workplaces and mandatory testing for anyone wishing to visit people in long-term care facilities has caused a statistical rise in the number of asymptomatic people testing positive for the virus.
Statistics also show that more young people are becoming cases, and currently, the recovery rate has lowered.
Regarding the proposed mandatory use of masks, Gardner said he is reviewing the prospect of issuing an order similar to that of neighbouring municipality Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph which would make it mandatory to wear masks in all retail establishments. Municipalities and the provincial government also have the ability to pass laws that would make masks mandatory but Gardner says, either way, “You would need a lot of public good will for it to happen.”
The number of local cases this week reached 602, with 571 of those being in Simcoe County and 30 in Muskoka. Of those, 508 have recovered.

Trina Berlo photo: A parade of classic cars through Stayner on Canada Day, making a special pass by Stayner Care Centre to show support for the staff and residents there. Many of whom came out to wave while residents watched from the windows.