Canada is on the sixth wave of COVID-19, says Dr. Teresatam-nationwide

Canada is on the sixth wave COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection)Confirmed by Canada’s top doctors.

The latest increase in cases across the country is facilitated by the BA.2 subvariant OmicronTeresatam, Chief of Public Health, said Tuesday.

“It depends on the location, but yes. In Canada, generally speaking, we’re experiencing a sixth wave,” Tam told reporters.

“COVID-19 activity is increasing everywhere.”

COVID-19 has been resurrected across Canada, despite the underestimation of cases due to limited PCR testing in most states, Tam said. Currently, there are 200,000 active cases nationwide. According to government figuress.

According to PHAC, the average number of cases per day has increased by 28% nationwide in the week leading up to March 31, and regional wastewater continues to show an increasing trend.

Most worrisome, Mr Tam said, hospitalizations are starting to increase. According to Health Canada websiteThe total number of COVID-19 patients admitted increased from more than 4,200 to more than 5,100 in the first week of April.

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During the same period, the number of COVID cases in the ICU bed was about the same, staying at 374 to 365, while the number of COVID patients using ventilators increased from 155 to 173.

Although it is true that mRNA vaccines are less effective in preventing infection over time, two doses are generally effective in preventing people from being hospitalized or getting worse. Even better is the booster, Tam said. She said your vaccination would be more than 90 percent more effective in keeping you away from the hospital if you were boosted.

Tam urged Canadians to get their boosters — not for themselves, and for others.

“The booster effect not only protects you from severe illness, but also provides a certain level of protection against infection, which helps reduce infection.”

The National Advisory Council on Immunization (NACI) strengthened booster guidance on Tuesday, “highly recommended for all adults over the age of 18 to get the first booster dose 6 months after the last jab. “It was said.

NACI is the latest recommendation, 12-17 years old, if immunodeficient, if living in a mass care environment, or if belonging to a marginalized community “disproportionately affected” by COVID-19. It also states that the first dose should be given to adolescents. , The group previously stated that boosters “may be offered”.

NACI also added a recommendation that “all” people in that age group “may be offered” the first booster, even if they do not belong to any of those groups.

Dr. Robin Harrison, Vice Chairman of NACI, said:

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Omicron’s BA.2 subvariant bears much of the responsibility for the recent surge, but many health professionals also point to the state’s decision to lift the restrictions.

Almost all states have abolished masking requirements and most have revoked vaccination rule certification.

“The mask needs to be replaced soon, otherwise we’ll have more cases,” said Kashif, a Toronto emergency physician in an interview with Global News last week. Dr. Pilzada said.

Pilzada believes that the government “no longer has our back” as hospital staff are working on burnout and increased hospitalization.

“This is a kind of do-it-yourself pandemic,” he said.

“If you have any symptoms, try to keep others away, wear a mask in an indoor space, and use quick tests to correct ventilation where you go to work or school. That would be very helpful. “

Tam gave similar advice to Canadians, regardless of what their state was telling them to do.

“It doesn’t matter where you are in Canada right now,” she said.

“It’s a good idea to take booster shots and mask and improve ventilation.”

— Using Global News Saba Aziz files