The epidemiological situation is expected to continue to improve, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, announced on Friday.
“Nationally, the count of new cases is down 26% and the number of people with COVID-19 in hospitals and intensive care units is down more than 20% compared to last week,” he said. – she indicated in a virtual press conference.
Even if the majority of the regions of the country are seeing their situation improve, a few are still struggling with an increase in cases, she nuanced.
Other good news: the BA.2 variant “does not seem to be associated with more severe symptoms” than its ancestor Omicron, according to statistics from Denmark, where it is well established. Similarly, data from England suggests that COVID-19 vaccines are no less effective against the newcomer, even though the latter is more transmissible.
10% of COVID-19 cases in Canada are now due to BA.2.
Despite the Omicron wave ending soon, Dr. Tam insisted that “our best advantage going forward is to stay ready” so we can react quickly in case the tide turns. To do this, she encouraged the population to continue to follow the health instructions of their province or territory.
The future of masks
Even if the infections decrease and the provinces gradually relax their sanitary measures, the mask continues according to her to be “a very good layer of personal protection”.
We will eventually “move from obligation to recommendation […]but even if it’s not required in your jurisdiction, you can still wear it,” she said.
“I think people should do everything they can to keep schools open,” she argued, citing masks as a way to avoid having to travel that far.
She also reminded that, even if the obligations fall at the moment, “if another variant arises, have your masks ready”.
The Deputy Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, Dr. Howard Njoo, for his part pleaded that “we must ensure that we do not stigmatize individuals who choose to wear a mask” even when it is no longer mandatory. He explained that some would be more comfortable continuing to protect themselves in this way, especially people who are immunocompromised or have a vulnerable loved one.
The virus here to stay
He expressed reservations about the possibility of one day achieving herd immunity, when protection against a second infection lasts only a few months.
“Even if the viral activity decreases in Canada, that does not mean that the virus will disappear,” also warned Dr. Tam. After all, “the pandemic is a global phenomenon” and not all countries are in such good shape.
We will probably have to learn to live with it, and to “balance the protection of the most vulnerable with the reduction of the impact on society”. The key to success would be to “reduce the rate of serious illnesses” so as not to clog the health system.
This is why Dr. Tam recalled the importance of vaccination, which limits the risk of ending up in hospital.
Quebec had 1,532 hospitalizations linked to COVID-19 on Friday, 72 less than the day before. Among them, 105 were in intensive care.
On Wednesday, Quebec’s acting national director of public health, Dr. Luc Boileau, announced that about three million Quebecers had already contracted the virus.