Restrictions in Canada could be lifted as early as fall
The peak of the third wave is behind us, and the pace of vaccination is encouraging.
On May 14, the Public Health Agency of Canada released some very welcome and encouraging information about COVID-19 on its government website.
The average daily number of cases last week was down 20% from the peak in April. For the first time since the beginning of last month, the national rate has reached less than 7,000 cases per day. In addition, fewer people are experiencing severe symptoms when they get sick and are admitted to hospitals. This likely means Canada has already passed the peak of the third wave.
As of May 14, more than 17 million doses of vaccine had been administered nationwide, just over 50% of the population. Still, the Public Health Agency believes that's not enough to ease restrictions. Modelling shows that when 75% of Canadians are vaccinated at least once and 20% are vaccinated twice, incidence will be low enough to start lifting quarantine measures.
With less than 25% of the population in Canada being vaccinated just 4 weeks ago, the 75% goal seems to be just around the corner. This is helped by the fact that vaccine supplies are increasing and provinces are allowing more and more people to be vaccinated.
The Public Health Agency suggests that if this vaccination trend continues, Canadians can look forward to outdoor gatherings during the summer: sports, camping, picnics with family and friends, and dining out on patio restaurants. However, keeping a distance and wearing masks will likely still be necessary.
In the fall, more Canadians will be fully vaccinated, so we can expect the ban on indoor gatherings to be lifted. This means that Canadians will go back to their normal workplaces, return to full-time classes at schools, colleges and universities, and be able to attend recreational events and parties.
