COVID-19 cases threaten to overflow hospitals in several parts of Canada, with hospitalizations approaching or reaching record levels in Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick.
Former University Health Network President and CEO and Ontario Deputy Minister of Health Dr Bob Bell said every western country facing the Omicron variant currently has a hospital system under pressure.
But he believes Canada will undertake lockdowns and restrictions faster than places like the United States, as Canada has a lower tolerance for deaths from the virus, he says.
Back to class in the West
Meanwhile, students from British Columbia and Alberta are back in class this morning after an extended winter break.
Many provinces have imposed a one-week delay in returning to face-to-face schooling, as the Omicron variant quickly spread across the country.
But officials in the two westernmost provinces have argued that virtual learning poses its own risks for children, saying it puts their mental health at risk.
Despite this, some children, parents and education workers have expressed concerns over the reopening of schools as the virus puts pressure on health systems across the country.
Alberta Education Minister Adriana LaGrange has pledged thousands of self-test boxes will be delivered to students and parents across the province over the next few days.
However, Edmonton Public Schools and the Alberta Teachers Association have pointed out that some children will only receive them within days of returning to class, which could further exacerbate the spread of Omicron cases.
In Quebec, people aged 40 and over can now make an appointment for a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine – a day after the province hit an all-time high of 2,436 hospitalizations linked to coronavirus infections.
As of now, staff at National Microbiology Laboratory facilities across the country are encouraged to work from home if possible.
A statement from the Public Health Agency of Canada says the move is meant to protect workers performing essential laboratory diagnostics and research on site.
The home work order covers staff at laboratory sites in Winnipeg, Guelph, Ontario, Saint-Hyacinthe and Lethbridge, Alberta.