On January 8th, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health unit declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Roberta Place long term care home, in Barrie. 

By Sunday the 17th, nine residents had died. 

At that time, there were 62 positive cases among home residents. 43 team members were infected. 

Those numbers are updated day by day.

It’s also confirmed that officials are testing for a highly infective strain of the COVID-19 virus. 

Various online sources have reported varying death rates and  different infection stats today and over the weekend. 

We at Barrie Community Media can’t verify these numbers.

But on Monday afternoon, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit announced that Soldiers memorial hospital in Orillia will be taking the lead in organizing the response to the outbreak. 

In a press release, Dr. Charles Gardner, SMDHU’s medical officer of health, explained more: 

 “The residents and staff at Roberta Place have been hit very hard with this current COVID-19 outbreak and our thoughts are with them during this extremely difficult time. In consultation with the facility, we have determined that the support of OSMH is essential 

“This outbreak unfortunately has spread very rapidly and affected a large number of the residents and staff. The leadership of OSMH, together with a number of other agencies and organizations, is necessary to bring it under control.”

According to the SMDHU, there have been 126 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the Simcoe Muskoka region this week. 

Debbie Grigg’s mother Evelyn is a resident at the home. “It’s heart-wrenching,” said Grigg in an interview. “I worry about my mother constantly.”