The panel made the statement in a series of messages posted on Twitter Wednesday afternoon, citing an “exponential increase” in cases in about 80 percent of public health units, as well as rising numbers of hospitalizations and positive test rates.
The scientists also said the sewage signal in most areas is now rising, indicating higher levels of viral activity overall.
“Current evidence does not suggest that BA.5 is more severe or will lead to an increase in hospitalizations as large as previous waves. However, any increase comes at a time when hospitals are already facing staff shortages and record waiting times – this affects us all,” the panel says. “And if BA.5 spreads widely, we may see an increase in deaths among higher-risk groups, such as the elderly, as seen in previous waves.”
The warning from the scientific panel comes as some countries face a rapid increase in transmission due to the BA.5 subvariable.
In Ontario, where the subvariable is now dominant, most public health indicators are also starting to move in the wrong direction after months of gradual improvement.
The latest figures released by the Department of Health on June 30 showed a week-on-week increase in hospitalizations for COVID-19 for the first time since May.
The positivity rate for PCR tests was also up, with the seven-day average rising from 7.64 on June 23 to 9.82 on June 30.
Meanwhile, public health measures in place during previous waves of the pandemic have now disappeared, including a mask mandate for high-risk settings that ended last month.
Razak told CP24 that he doesn’t think a “mask mandate alone would have prevented the spike we’re seeing” now, but said he sees masks as a “very low-burden means of reducing the spread of the virus that gives us it allows us to do many other things that we value.”
“Masks to me are part of the solution and this is clearly a time where there is enhanced value in using that mask in an indoor environment,” he said.
There is no evidence to suggest that BA.5 is more severe
The scientific panel said “there is no evidence to suggest that BA.5 is more severe or will lead to an increase in hospitalizations as large as previous waves”.
However, he said “we may see an increase in deaths among higher-risk groups such as the elderly, as seen in previous waves”.
“This is a global phenomenon. All countries in the Western Hemisphere are experiencing this,” Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore on Wednesday, noting there are no plans to revive mask mandates or other public health measures.. “As our borders open. as travel returns it is only natural that this virus will be released worldwide. But Ontario has so far done very well in minimizing its impact on the health care system.”
The scientific panel says Ontarians should take certain precautions as a result of the increase in transmission, including “returning to mask use in crowded indoor public spaces” and ventilating indoors as much as possible by opening windows and doors.
Moore also said Ontarians should make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations.
“We are further looking into the suitability (fourth tranche) to extend in the coming days with the approval of the government. But my message today is if you haven’t had your booster, come forward,” he said. “If you’re eligible and you’re 60 or older and it’s been five months (after the third dose), your protection from serious effects decreases month by month.”
title: “New Wave Of The Covid 19 Pandemic Has Arrived In Ontario Scientific Panel " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-09” author: “Dorothy Jackson”
The panel made the statement in a series of messages posted on Twitter Wednesday afternoon, citing an “exponential increase” in cases in about 80 percent of public health units, as well as rising numbers of hospitalizations and positive test rates. The scientists also said the sewage signal in most areas is now rising, indicating higher levels of viral activity overall. “Current evidence does not suggest that BA.5 is more severe or will lead to an increase in hospitalizations as large as previous waves. However, any increase comes at a time when hospitals are already facing staff shortages and record waiting times – this affects us all,” the panel says. “And if BA.5 spreads widely, we may see an increase in deaths among higher-risk groups, such as the elderly, as seen in previous waves.” The warning from the scientific panel comes as some countries face a rapid increase in transmission due to the BA.5 subvariable. In Ontario, where the subvariable is now dominant, most public health indicators are also starting to move in the wrong direction after months of gradual improvement. The latest figures released by the Department of Health on June 30 showed a week-on-week increase in hospitalizations for COVID-19 for the first time since May. The positivity rate for PCR tests was also up, with the seven-day average rising from 7.64 on June 23 to 9.82 on June 30. Meanwhile, public health measures in place during previous waves of the pandemic have now disappeared, including a mask mandate for high-risk settings that ended last month. Speaking to CP24 on Wednesday afternoon, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said there are currently no plans to revive mask mandates in light of the increase in transmission, but urged Ontarians at risk of a more severe outcome from COVID-19 to consider wearing a mask indoors in public spaces. “This is a global phenomenon. All countries in the Western Hemisphere are experiencing this,” he said of the rise in cases. “As our borders open up, as travel returns, it’s only natural that this virus will circulate globally. But Ontario has so far done very well in minimizing its impact on the health care system.” The scientific panel said that “the increase in hospitalizations will likely be smaller than previous waves,” but at the same time noted that it would put significant pressure on hospitals, given that COVID-19 hospitalizations “remain higher than in past summers. The panel also warns Ontarians that the new subvariant could have some properties that help it evade immunity, meaning people can be reinfected with BA.5 even if they have been “recently infected with an older strain’. “I’d just like to point out that there are 5 million Ontarians who have yet to take advantage of our first booster dose and a million of them are over 50 and in our opinion are at risk for serious effects from COVID-19,” Moore said. he told CP24. “So please stay up to date with your vaccinations. I’m appealing to those 5 million Ontarians who haven’t taken advantage of the first booster, please come forward.” The scientific panel says Ontarians should take certain precautions as a result of the increase in transmission, including “returning to mask use in crowded indoor public spaces” and ventilating indoors as much as possible by opening windows and doors.
