(OTTAWA) The surge in COVID-19 cases is being felt as provinces drop their health measures. The daily increase in cases has reached 34% since March 30, according to Federal Public Health, which is, however, reluctant to speak of a sixth wave nationwide.
Posted at 11:33 a.m.
Updated at 12:40 p.m.
The increase in cases is mainly felt in Quebec and Ontario, the two most populous provinces, said the Dr Howard Njoo, deputy chief administrator of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), during an update Friday.
For the past month, Ontario has lifted the vaccination passport requirement as well as the capacity limit for businesses and private gatherings. Wearing a mask is no longer compulsory in most public places since March 21.
Quebec also ended the requirement for a vaccine passport to frequent restaurants, cinemas and performance halls on March 12. Wearing a mask in public places is still required for the moment, but the national director of public health, Luc Boileau, planned to lift the obligation as of April 15.
“The uptick in virus activity was expected because every time we relax health measures and increase in-person activities, there are more contacts and the number of cases increases,” the administrator said. PHAC chief, Theresa Tam.
Especially since the new BA.2 variant is transmitted more quickly than the Omicron variant, which caused the fifth wave of COVID-19 during the holiday season. Federal Public Health expects it to spread quickly to areas of the country where Omicron had hit less hard and where the delivery of a third dose of vaccine is low.
More details to come.