According to the chief administrator of the Public Health Agency of Canada, Theresa Tam, an unprecedented number
people were infected this winter with the Omicron variant in Canada, where more than 10,000 new cases are reported on average every day.
Still high figures which do not take into account the fact that a significant part of infected people are no longer officially declared due to lack of accessibility to PCR tests for the general population.
According to federal public health, Quebec and Ontario, which were first hit by Omicron, have now reached plateaus, although their hospitals are still very busy with COVID-19 patients.
In western Canada, on the other hand, hospitalizations are still on the rise in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
« The test positivity rate, true reproduction rate (TR), and sewage monitoring trends show continued widespread activity across the country. »
Currently, more than 10,000 people on average need to be treated for COVID-19 in hospitals across the country, including 1,100 in intensive care. Added to this are approximately 140 disease-related deaths every day in Canada.
« We must continue to do everything we can to limit the spread of this virus as much as possible. »
Omicron’s BA.2 subvariant, presumed to be more contagious than its initial version, was detected by screening in approximately 8% of positive tests in Canada.
Recalling that the most effective weapon against serious forms of the disease and death is vaccination, the federal Minister of Health, Jean-Yves Duclos, declared that as of January 30, 85% of Canadians had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
At least 79% had received their second dose and 50% their third dose, or 5% more than the previous week, welcomed the minister.
The Minister also pointed out that every day nearly 10,000 Canadians receive a first dose of vaccine, which is good news, he added.
For children aged 5 to 11, 55% received their first dose, which is 2% more than the previous week.
New recommendations for people who have had COVID-19
With respect to vaccinating people who have already had COVID-19, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) today recommended that people who have contracted the virus before completing the series of the three vaccines continue their vaccination sequence despite everything.
According to NACI, if you have contracted COVID-19, you will need to wait at least eight weeks after symptoms appear or test positive before you can receive your next vaccine.
For people who have received three doses, but need a fourth dose due to their medical condition, it will be necessary to wait three months after having had COVID-19 before obtaining a fourth dose.
Creation of a position of Chief Nursing Officer of Canada
In addition, in order to leverage the experience and field knowledge of nurses in the fight against the virus, Health Canada began the hiring process this week for the creation of a nurse or Chief Nursing Officer of Canada.
The successful candidate will not only represent the interests of nurses nationally, but will also contribute substantially to health protection work and decisions at Health Canada.
, explained Jean-Yves Duclos.
Now, more than ever, it is time to ensure that their views and experiences are more heard and considered in the decisions we make across the country.
, added the Federal Minister of Health.