COVID-19 is coming back to Canada?
The data shows that the number of coronavirus cases in the country may increase in the near future.
According to new data from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the number of coronavirus infections is starting to gradually increase. However, PHAC is very cautious in its assumptions.
"There are signs of continued fluctuations in some COVID-19 activity indicators after a long period of gradual decline. This may be an early sign of increases in activity," said an online epidemiologic update published this week.
COVID-19 activity is noted to still be low to moderate in the provinces and territories of Canada.
To determine the level of coronavirus activity in the country, public health experts utilize wastewater monitoring data from across the country, as well as rates of citizens testing positive for COVID-19.
Dr. Allison McGeer of Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, spoken to by CTV News, reports that coronavirus infections are on the rise in the U.S. and other countries.
"I think the solid evidence is that COVID is coming back (in Canada)," she adds, while noting that we shouldn't expect a dramatic increase in infections for "another few weeks at least."
McGeer says that even though mass PCR testing for coronavirus in Canada has ended, people are still getting tested if they go to the hospital or if they have symptoms of COVID, which means they are potential candidates for Paxlovid treatment.
According to the doctor, in the increase in the number of infections may play a role in the weakening of immunity and the action of vaccines, the emergence of new subtypes of the virus, as well as the fact that with the arrival of autumn, people will spend more and more time in closed rooms.
PHAC report that 99% of people infected with COVID-19, the week of July 10-16, were infected with XBB subvariants. McMaster University immunologist Dawn Bowdish predicts that the "daughter variant" of the XBB EG.5 group will dominate all infections in the coming weeks. However, she sees no indication that this COVID-19 variant will run its course more severely in people who are not at risk.
The increase in COVID-19 infections is especially dangerous for the elderly and immunocompromised. Dr. Alison McGeer believes that getting vaccinated this fall will help save the lives and health of seniors.
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Since the updated coronavirus vaccines due to enter the market this fall were developed to target subtypes of the XBB family, they are likely to be highly effective against the new COVID-19 varieties.
In addition to introducing the updated vaccine in the near future, health authorities across Canada continue to recommend that people stay home if they feel unwell or have symptoms of COVID-19 to prevent the spread of the disease. Also, the mandatory wearing of masks has been eliminated in the country, but many hospitals are still not allowed to be unmasked.
