Record level of COVID-19 incidence in a Canadian province
One in 40 residents of Prince Edward Island has a confirmed covid.
On Monday, 4,241 cases of COVID-19 infection were reported in Prince Edward Island. According to the federal government, the rate of illness was a record since the pandemic began, not only in the province but in all of Canada. Over the past 7 days, the daily increase in cases averaged 427.
As Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Heather Morrison said in a recent interview, the main reason for the coronavirus outbreak on the island was the removal of restrictions. She noted that the spread of the virus mostly occurred when friends and family got together without masks.
There are currently 2 people in the hospital who are being treated for COVID-19 and 7 people who were hospitalized for other reasons but tested positive on or after admission. So far, there have been 16 COVID-19-related deaths on Prince Edward Island. Most of the deceased have been residents of nursing homes. High levels of vaccination on the island have prevented most islanders from becoming seriously ill, but given the current situation, there will clearly be many more deaths due to the virus.
"For many, it can be fairly easy to tolerate omicron, but for some, the consequences will be severe, especially for the unvaccinated," said Colin Furness, an epidemiologist for infection control and professor at the University of Toronto.
Two outbreaks of coronavirus infection have now been reported in nursing homes. There are also cases in 44 children's centers.
