“We have likely entered a wave driven by the Omicron BA.5 subvariant,” the science advisory panel tweeted on Wednesday. The effluent trends begin to show a steeper increase in viral signals, as illustrated above. The committee noted that hospitalizations will likely be lower than in previous waves, but warned that the health care system is still strained. “Current evidence does not suggest that BA.5 is more severe or will lead to an increase in hospitalizations as large as previous waves,” the experts said on Twitter. “However, any increase comes at a time when hospitals are already facing staff shortages and record waiting times. This affects us all.” They added that if you have recently overcome a COVID-19 infection, you could be infected again. While it did not recommend new mandates, the panel noted that wearing a high-quality mask in crowded indoor spaces “is a good way” to protect yourself. They also recommended being told about your third and fourth dose of the vaccine, depending on which one is offered. You can increase ventilation by opening your windows or simply gathering with friends and family outside. “We have tools that work and we know what to do,” the committee noted. “So do what you can to reduce your risk while enjoying the summer.” Image courtesy of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Panel If you spot a spelling mistake, please let us know by selecting this text and pressing Ctrl+Enter. Go back
