COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in Canada remain stable but much higher than in past summers

COVID-19 Hospitalizations, deaths and confirmed cases across Canada are relatively stable after an early summer wave, but much higher than in previous years. data show that .

As of Wednesday, he had an average of 3,475 laboratory-confirmed cases and 44 deaths per day in Canada. Currently, 5,158 people are hospitalized with her COVID-19, including 305 of his patients in intensive care.

These figures are down slightly from the brief wave of infections in June and July, but remain much higher than the infection rates seen in the summer of 2020 and 2021. .

Over the past few years, an average of about 350 patients were admitted to the hospital each day during the summer. From August 2021 to September of that year he saw an increase in hospitalizations, but peaked at the current half.

Current mortality rates are also significantly lower than past summers when the average number of deaths per day was in the single digits. surpassed.

Previous evidence pointed to the summer months as a predictable lull in the pandemic, as people spend more time in outdoor spaces where the virus is less transmitted.

However, a more virulent variant of Omicron turned that idea on its head, and further mutations, including the current BA.5 variant and its predecessor BA.2, resulted in more infections this year than in the past.

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According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, 15,000 people worldwide died from COVID-19 in the last week alone.

"There is a lot of discussion about learning to live with this virus, but we cannot live with 15,000 deaths a week. I can't go," he said at a press conference.

"We cannot live with unequal access to vaccines and other tools. Learning to live with COVID-19 is pretending it does not exist." It does mean that we use the tools we have to protect ourselves and protect others."

Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Teresa Tam said: says so. The country is in the transitional phase of a pandemic that is likely to lead to further waves this year, warning in June that COVID-19 "hasn't left the stage."

Public health officials are shifting their focus to a potentially severe wave in the fall and winter. Plans are underway to provide booster vaccines to all adults who want them, and to ensure that vulnerable populations receive them.

Experts say boosters are important. Current vaccines do not adequately protect against Omicron and its subspecies, allowing 'breakthrough cases' and even reinfections among vaccinated persons.

"But there is evidence that if you are vaccinated, you are more likely not to go to the hospital," said Dr. Horacio Bach, an infectious disease researcher and assistant professor at the University. increase. British Columbia.

"People [with COVID-19] will say, 'It's like the flu, it's okay, I'm going to stay home.' It's the result of the vaccine."

Canadian public The Department of Health found that between June 6 and July 3 of this year, unvaccinated patients were 3 more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 compared to vaccinated patients. twice as likely to die from COVID-19, and four times more likely to die from COVID-19.

Tedros gets boosters for everyone who has access to booster doses and makes it impossible to keep a distance. urged to keep wearing a mask if possible.

As of Monday, 86.1% of his Canadian population had received at least one dose of his approved COVID-19 vaccine, and 82.4% had received at least two doses. However, just under half (49.7%) received at least one more booster.

Despite the relatively stable number of hospital admissions nationwide, there are signs that more patients are being hospitalized with complaints.

According to the latest information, hospitalizations are increasing in Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec. Most provinces other than Quebec have transitioned to reporting data weekly, while Saskatchewan plans to release its first monthly report on Thursday.

To date, states and territories have confirmed more than 4,125,000 cases of her COVID-19, including 43,471 deaths.

— Using files by Rachel Gilmore

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