COVID-19 seventh wave will peak in one-two weeks, eastern Ontario top doctor says
Eastern Ontario's top doctor expects the seventh wave of the COVID-19 pandemic to peak locally and across the province in the next one to two weeks.
The Eastern Ontario Health Unit and Ottawa Public Health are reporting an increase in COVID-19 activity in recent weeks.
In Eastern Ontario, the health unit says infection indicators are increasing, including COVID-19 test positivity rates, hospitalizations and outbreaks. On Friday, the health unit reported a positivity rate of 16 per cent, while there are 11 people in hospital due to COVID-19.
"We are currently in the seventh wave of COVID-19, along with the rest of Ontario," medical officer of health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis said in a statement. "We're watching local indicators closely and expect that the wave will peak over the next one-two weeks both locally and provincially."
Roumeliotis anticipates the seventh wave will follow the same pattern seen in other countries: a four-week increase followed by a four-week decline.
The seventh wave is being driven by the highly transmissible BA.5 Omicron variant.
Ottawa Public Health said this week that the new wave is "another reminder: the pandemic is not over." Ottawa is seeing a rise in wastewater viral signal, test positivity rate, hospital admissions and outbreaks.
Ottawa's COVID-19 positivity rate is 20 per cent, while 23 new outbreaks have been declared this week in Ottawa's long-term care homes, retirement homes, hospitals and other settings.
The rise in COVID-19 cases in the region comes as Ontario opens up the eligibility for the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to all residents over the age of 18.
"Protection from the two-dose vaccine series for many people is wearing off," said Dr. Roumeliotis. "Over 65 per cent of people under 50 have not yet gotten their first booster dose. This is a concern as the booster dose provides significant added protection against serious illness and hospitalization."
Correction
Ottawa Public Health says the COVID-19 pandemic is not over. CTV News Ottawa has updated the story and apologizes for the error.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.