Canadians should be extra careful, urges federal public health, as respiratory viruses experience a sharp start to the domestic season, immunity to COVID-19 declines and contact increases as restrictions ease sanitary measures and the beginning of the cold season.
Influenza activity has seen “marked growth” and the seasonal 5% threshold for lab test positivity has already been crossed, the deputy chief administrator of the Public Health Agency of Canada noted Thursday. , Dr. Howard Njoo, at a press conference.
Dr Njoo argued that indicators like this highlight “the need for increased precautions” since seasonal respiratory viruses could be circulating simultaneously over the next few weeks.
Public health insisted on its three main recommendations, namely to receive a dose of the bivalent vaccine – which contains the original strain and that of Omicron – if six months have passed since their last dose or an infection and to take advantage of it to receive a flu vaccine, to wear a mask “especially in crowded or poorly ventilated places” to protect your respiratory tract and wash your hands, and finally to stay at home in case of symptoms.
While insisting that he does not have a “crystal ball” to predict whether COVID-19 will make a strong comeback in the coming months, Dr. Njoo said the situation of this virus is “stable” and will “maybe increasing”. However, he added that the situation is dynamic and that the season of respiratory infectious diseases in general must be taken into account in the analysis.
“Canadians have a job to do” when it comes to vaccinations, Dr. Njoo said. While many have received their first two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, “the news isn’t so good” when it comes to booster doses, he said.
As for pandemic fatigue, Dr Njoo acknowledged that “it’s normal, everyone is tired after two and a half years of the pandemic”. However, he called on people to find “a balance”, especially since good sanitary habits are now well known.
Public health has insisted that it is not just about protecting yourself, but also protecting others.