'Going back to wearing a mask again...': Ontario's new wave of COVID-19 leads science, health experts to urge the public to add protections
Ontario's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table released key messages on the province "likely" entering a new "wave" of the pandemic, led by the Omicron BA.5 subvariant, which includes urging the public to wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces again.
"The rise in hospitalizations will likely be smaller than earlier waves, but our hospitals are already very strained," a thread posted on Twitter reads. "The third vaccine dose is critical to protect against severe disease."
Going back to wearing a mask again in crowded indoor public spaces is a good way to protect yourself until the wave is done.Ontario's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table
@COVIDSciOntario review of multiple indicators supports the start of a wave:
1) The wastewater signal is rising, overall and within most regions.
(4/17) pic.twitter.com/oRqIWsJbWs— COVIDScienceOntario (@COVIDSciOntario) July 6, 2022
The science table highlights that wastewater surveillance shows a rise in COVID-19 in most regions of the province.
2) The test positivity rate (orange line) is above 10% for the first time since May
(5/17) pic.twitter.com/V9RhD6zfQT— COVIDScienceOntario (@COVIDSciOntario) July 6, 2022
Test positivity is also above 10 per cent for the first time since May.
3) We are seeing the first increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations since May 2022, and hospitalizations remain higher than at any time last summer.
(6/17) pic.twitter.com/9DfaDCJVw2— COVIDScienceOntario (@COVIDSciOntario) July 6, 2022
"We are seeing the first increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations since May 2022, and hospitalizations remain higher than at any time last summer," a tweet from Ontario's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table reads.
"Since June 1, most G10 countries have already seen a rise in cases and hospitalizations driven by highly contagious Omicron sub-variants. We may be a couple weeks behind in this rise."
The science table also states that "a recent infection may not protect you very well from reinfection with BA.5," prompting the scientific and health experts to share that "re-engaging" multiple layers of protection will reduce the risk of infection, and getting as many doses of a COVID-19 vaccine as each individual is eligible to receive.
"Ensure your vaccinations are up to date. 60 per cent of adults have received their third dose. It provides significant additional protection against serious illness," the science table wrote on Twitter.
"If you are age 60 or over, or immunocompromised, and haven’t received your fourth dose, now is the time. New vaccines targeted to emerging variants could be available this fall, but as there’s a wave starting, it makes sense to get the vaccines you are eligible for now."
Other health experts in Ontario have also taken to social media to comment on the existing COVID-19 spread in the province.
@COVIDSciOntario, CMOH, local MOHs, other experts—everyone agrees, we’re into wave 7.
Make sure you
💉 have 3 doses of vaccine
😷 mask indoors
🏠 stay home when sick
Brace yourself. Ontario's next wave of COVID-19 is here, top doctor confirms | CBC News https://t.co/FUbAgGv7VR— Mustafa Hirji (@mustafahirji) July 7, 2022
7th wave of #COVID19 is here. While our “top doctors” do nothing about exponential growth, we *should* act. #MaskUp indoors (N95s), open windows, use HEPA. Avoid outdoor crowds. Isolate if +ve (RATs until no longer contagious). And get booster vaccines now. USE ALL OUR TOOLS.
— Nili Kaplan-Myrth MD PhD (@nilikm) July 7, 2022
ON #COVID ICU numbers bottomed out 9 days ago and are up 28% since. Absolute numbers manageable (84- 108) but trend is up.
No need to panic but we need to plan.
- increase 3rd shot uptake, 4th shot availability
-ICU RN shortage limits bed access already - we need an action plan— Michael Warner (@drmwarner) July 7, 2022
It’s quite shocking that our governments went from actually doing things to prevent the spread of a virus that can damage multiple organs, including the brain...to doing nothing (e.g. no masking, no regular data, no plans for paid sick days)...then were like “COVID is over ✌🏾"
— Naheed Dosani (@NaheedD) July 7, 2022
It’s time to open up eligibility for second #covidboosters.
— Dr. Brian Goldman (@NightShiftMD) July 7, 2022
Ontario's #Covid19 status since June 1:
- Exponential growth in cases
- wastewater signal keeps ⬆️
- Just 50% w/ 3rd dose vaccine
Hospitalizations are happening. Should we wait for BA.5 to cause more? Pls don't. Your mask & 3rd dose matter. A lot. pic.twitter.com/kN0ZFuUTmk— Abdu Sharkawy (@SharkawyMD) July 5, 2022