COVID-19: Provincial & Federal Briefings - June 27 - 30, 2022
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In light of Canada Day tomorrow, our weekly summary is coming your way a day earlier.
Developments from Monday, June 27 to Thursday, June 30, 2022 follow below.
Federal Government???? ?
Canadian Government COVID-19 Briefing?
On June 30, the Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos held a news conference to provide an update on COVID-19. He was joined virtually by Dr. Tam. ?
Minister Duclos emphasized that it is important to keep vaccinations up to date, and two doses are no longer enough. He encouraged Canadians to make sure their latest vaccine dose was administered within the last nine months. ?
According to Dr. Tam, weekly COVID-19 case counts and severe illness trends are stable or declining in many areas, but COVID-19 variants are still circulating across Canada. Despite overall lower transmissions nationally, regional variability continues. Some regions have reported increases in disease activity, including in lab test positivity, and wastewater signals.
Variants BA.4 and BA.5 have been proportionally increasing in Canada. These strains are more transmissible than BA.1 and BA.2, and it is reasonable to expect an increase in cases over the coming week. ?
Dr. Tam warned that we should be expecting a resurgence of the virus in the weeks and months ahead.?
Health Professionals Call for Return to Masking?
The Globe and Mail reported that health professionals are advising it is time to bring back the indoor mask-wearing requirements, amidst raising concerns of a surge in COVID-19 cases this summer. Over the past month, countries such as the U.S., Portugal and Italy have seen a rise in COVID-19 emergence, and Canada likely will not be the exception. ?
Dr. Ladha said that in Canada, the singular reliance on vaccines to control COVID-19 has not worked and we need layers of protection, of which “masks are an essential layer.”?
Many health professionals believe the masking mandates were removed prematurely. Dr. Wurster, an Alberta emergency physician, stated there was never any indication it was safe to remove the masking mandate, and the “masks should always be the first thing that we use and the last thing that we get rid of.” ?
Furthermore, there has been a perception that high case counts are “no longer a big deal”, yet, health professionals have noted that increasingly fewer people are wearing masks. Many doctors believe mandating masks again in indoor public spaces is one immediate way to fend off another wave. ?
Canada to Extend Border Measures?
On June 29, the Government of Canada announced it is extending current border measures for travellers entering Canada. Requirements for travellers arriving in Canada are expected to remain in effect until at least September 30, 2022, in order to reduce the risk of the importation and transmission of COVID-19 and new variants in Canada related to international travel.?Additionally, the pause of mandatory random testing will continue at all airports until mid-July for travellers who qualify as fully vaccinated. Mandatory random testing will continue after mid-July and will be conducted outside of airports.?
Luggage Problems Add to Travel Difficulties?
According to an article from The Globe and Mail, in addition to the recent delays in airports and passports, luggage is now another source of stress for travellers. There has been significant disruption to the baggage systems, and there are now piles of luggage beside baggage belts in airports across Canada and the world. ?
Dave Flowers, a national president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, stated that part of the problem is a staff shortage of ground handlers. It has created a bit of a “bidding war” as airlines race to hire more workers.?
Air Canada explained that surging passenger numbers have contributed to “more instances of delated bags.” Air Canada is now carrying around 120,000 or more people per day on average, compared to 23,000 people a year ago. ?
Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra told reporters he recently raised concerns of the ongoing travel headaches with the country's largest airports and airlines. He said the airports and airlines know they need to add more resources and are working on that. ?
COVID-19 Data Trends?????
The Canadian COVID-19 statistics were last updated on Friday, June 24. ?
In the past week, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) reported 15,047 new COVID-19 cases, and 137?new deaths in Canada: bringing the cumulative total of cases to 3,913,975 and a total of 41,566 deaths.??????
Vaccination Data Trends?
The latest vaccination data update, current to June 27,?indicates that 85% of the total population have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Statistical breakdown follows:?
Ontario?
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The COVID-19 statistics for Ontario were last updated on Thursday, June 23. ?
As of last Thursday, there were 516 people with COVID-19 in hospitals, which is down from 529 at the week before. Of those patients, 96 were being treated in intensive care. ?
?Over the course of the seven days (ending June 23), the estimated number of daily COVID-19 cases was 655, up from 648 cases for the same time last week. Another 21 Ontarians with COVID-19 died over the same period.?
On June 23, 90.5% of Ontarians, aged 5 or older had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 87.3% had received both doses. In addition, 61.9% of people aged 18 or older are vaccinated with three doses.
Quebec
National Director of Public Health Dr. Luc Boileau held a press conference on June 29, to provide an update on COVID-19 in Quebec. He was accompanied by Dr. Jean Longtin, a microbiologist and clinical expert in support of the MSSS scientific management of the pandemic.
According to Dr. Boileau, several transmission indicators are on the rise, and public health is seeing a rise in cases and a marked increase in hospitalizations, all of which is undoubtedly due to the arrival of new variants.
The new Omicron subvariants, such as BA2.12.1, BA.5 and BA.4, account for about 75 per cent of infections. Dr. Boileau explained that the province doesn’t plan on re-imposing any broad-level public health restrictions. However, he strongly recommends that people who are over the age of 60, who are immunocompromised or who have chronic illnesses should seek a second booster shot if they haven’t had one or if their last shot was more than three months ago. He also recommends that people who are over 65 or medically vulnerable should wear a mask, especially in crowded places.
Dr. Boileau expressed concern regarding the impact the increase in cases will have on the healthcare system, adding that authorities were working with hospitals to readjust services when necessary. However, he did not expect the new rise in cases to grow much higher and he believed that the numbers should begin to decline in the next few weeks.
Santé Québec reported 8,036 new cases with 30 virus-related deaths in the last 7 days. There was a net weekly increase of 214 hospitalizations, bringing the total number of people being treated in hospital with the virus to 1,294. There was also a net increase of 12 patients in intensive care in the last 7 days, bringing the total to 42.
More than 20.3 million vaccine doses have been administered to Quebecers residing in and outside the province. The Santé Québec COVID-19 dashboard shows that 91% of the total eligible people aged 5 years and older have received their first vaccine dose and 55% their third dose while 15% of the total eligible people have received their fourth vaccine dose.
Alberta
As of Thursday June 30, 2022, Alberta is rescinding key public health orders, including many for continuing care facilities. CBC News reported on June 29 that facilities will be able to remove the health screening requirement for visitors, meaning workers will not have to check everyone at the door for red flags such as COVID-19 symptoms, recent travel, or close contacts with COVID-19. Although provincial public health rules have been dropped, Alberta Health Services will still require masking policies and isolation for symptomatic or infected residents, staff and visitors of continuing care facilities.
The province released updated COVID-19 statistics this week. As of June 27, there were 132 new cases reported on a 7-day average, of which 13 are currently in intensive care. The positivity percentage, on a 7-day average is 11.74%. To date, 90.6% of the population 12 years and older are vaccinated with 1 dose and 87.1% of the population 12 years and older are vaccinated with 2 doses.
British Columbia
The province has not yet released updated COVID-19 statistics this week. Last week, on June 23, on a 7-day average, there were 273 people hospitalized with COVID-19, 28 of which were in critical care. There were 642 new cases this week and 26 deaths. British Columbia’s average testing rate is 1,745 per 100,000.
Canada’s COVID-19 Tracker reported this week that on a 7-day average as of June 21, 2022, 86.663% of all people in British Columbia received at least one dose of a vaccine. 83.963% of all people in British Columbia have received at least two doses, but only 53.033% of all people in British Columbia are fully vaccinated with a third dose.
In other news, the Vancouver Sun reported on June 27 that the CEO of British Columbia Ferries, Mark Collins, announced that the company used all of their $308 million COVID-19 government bailout money. Collins stated that despite not having recovered to pre-pandemic revenue numbers this past year, the company does not foresee the need for any further COVID-19 relief funding.?
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Glad to discuss further.?
Wishing all a good and safe Canada Day and weekend.
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