Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit to be disbanded in 2020

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit will be disbanded next year and merged as part of a consolidation into larger public-health units with neighbours to the north and south.

The Simcoe Musoka District Health Unit will cease to exist April 1, 2020.

The Simcoe County portion of operations will be merged with York Region operations, while the Muskoka area would be folded into an area covering the northeast.

A spokesperson at the health unit confirmed the news to BarrieToday.

The health unit oversees a number of public-health services and programs, including alerts and recalls, inspections, immunization, advocacy, and various classes.

The health unit's current coverage area includes from Bradford to north of Huntsville, and from Haliburton over to Georgian Bay.

The District Municipality of Muskoka joins with North Bay, Parry Sound, Sudbury, Algoma, Temiskaming, Porcupine and part of Renfrew.