COVID, the flu and RSV. Navigating the holiday season amidst a wave of illnesses – National | 24CA News
As the vacation season will get underway, the enjoyment of gatherings with household and buddies intertwines with the challenges of chilly and flu season and rising COVID-19 instances in some provinces, prompting warnings from well being consultants for Canadians to stay vigilant.
Across Canada, the share of weekly constructive COVID-19 assessments was 18.2 per cent as of Dec. 12, with provinces like Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island seeing the best spike in instances, in keeping with the newest numbers from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
“As people are spending more time together indoors, there is an increase in the number of COVID cases that are occurring,” Dr. Brian Conway, medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Disease Centre, advised Global News. “In terms of the most severe parts of COVID, there are still three to four deaths per hour across the country from COVID, so it really hasn’t gone away.”
At a nationwide degree, the share of laboratory assessments coming again constructive for COVID-19 stays comparatively excessive, PHAC mentioned. But total, most provinces and territories reported secure tendencies.
And it’s not simply COVID-19 circulating. Other respiratory sicknesses, like influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), are making their rounds as nicely.
From Dec. 3 to Dec. 9, the weekly share of assessments constructive for influenza rose to 13.2 per cent, up from 9.9 per cent from the prior week, PHAC numbers present. Although influenza exercise is growing, PHAC mentioned it’s nonetheless inside anticipated ranges for this time of yr.
Cases of RSV additionally proceed to extend however are inside anticipated ranges for this time of yr, with a complete of two,223 detections between Dec. 3 and Dec. 9, in keeping with PHAC’s newest knowledge.
“The flu kills people, COVID kills a lot of people. Both of these can make you very grievously ill, and RSV can make you grievously ill if you’re very young or very old,” warned Colin Furness, an an infection management epidemiologist and assistant professor within the school of data on the University of Toronto.
“And the ones most at risk of the very young and the very old.”
Furness voiced concern that, whereas any respiratory sickness could be dangerous, the heightened ranges of COVID-19 circulating may result in extra individuals getting contaminated and falling ailing throughout vacation festivities, given its significantly increased an infection charges.
COVID wastewater charges throughout the nation
The spike in COVID-19 instances varies throughout the nation, however PHAC wastewater surveillance reveals which areas have been hit the toughest (as of Dec. 7).
Wastewater surveillance in British Columbia signifies low charges of COVID-19 within the provinces, whereas Alberta’s numbers are described as “moderate,” in keeping with the newest knowledge.
In the prairies, Saskatchewan and Manitoba wastewater surveillance reveals reasonable to low ranges of COVID-19.
In Ontario, wastewater surveillance reveals excessive ranges of COVID-19 instances. According to knowledge from Public Health Ontario (PHO), COVID-19 instances are the best they’ve been in additional than a yr and are persevering with to climb.
Furness mentioned ranges are so excessive in Ontario that the province is in the course of one other wave.
“The interesting thing about wastewater signals is it shows you that the whole province and even perhaps parts of the city are not synchronized, that the southwest (part of the province) is clearly past it. But the Toronto area is clearly right in the middle of it. And it’s really sizable,” he mentioned.
Quebec can be displaying reasonable ranges of the virus, in keeping with the wastewater surveillance in Montreal.
And on the East Coast, components of Novia Scotia and P.E.I, are displaying reasonable to excessive quantities of COVID-19.
Tips to remain secure at vacation get-togethers
As the vacations method, PHAC warned in a press release Friday that Canadians can anticipate additional unfold of viruses as we journey and socialize extra. But precautionary measures could be taken.
One important step is to obtain vaccinations for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV should you meet the eligibility standards (for individuals 60 and older).
Currently, 14.6 per cent of the inhabitants has acquired the up to date XBB.1.5 vaccine, PHAC reported.
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public well being officer, advised Global News on Monday that vaccine protection is decrease than earlier years, and well being officers are “concerned about uptake in the highest risk groups,” due to it.
“But I think provinces and territories are trying to make access easier. For example, you can get your COVID-19 vaccine and the flu shot at the same time so you don’t have to go in twice and it’s more available in places like pharmacies,” she mentioned.
If you do turn out to be ailing with COVID-19, Conway recommends contemplating the remedy Paxlovid as it might doubtlessly shorten the period of the sickness. This remedy possibility is accessible for Canadians over the age of 18 and could be accessed at most pharmacies, Conway added.
“Stay home if you are sick. And that is going to be so hard for a holiday party,” he mentioned.
And if you’re internet hosting a Christmas dinner, Furness recommends investing in a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter system to enhance air high quality in the home. Or even cracking open home windows if mandatory.
And in fact, if apprehensive, to put on a masks at a vacation gathering.
“You can’t always tell (if people are sick) by looking at them. Some people are coughing, but some people aren’t. So it’s a giant game of roulette,” Furness mentioned. “Showing up at a holiday party with a mask is a bit of a buzzkill… but being grievously ill is worse.”
What about travelling on planes?
When it involves vacation journey by aircraft, Furness mentioned that the well-designed filtration techniques on a flight present a substantial degree of safety, minimizing the unfold of germs.
“But it does not immunize you from whoever is sitting right next to you, so you always have that up close problem,” he mentioned. “The problem in airplanes is when they are sitting on the tarmac and the ventilation gets shut down. That is the time to be concerned.”
This is when having a masks is useful, he mentioned.
Conway agrees, including there must be some precaution on airline journey.
“If you’re on an airplane and you feel a little bit uncomfortable, too many people too close to each other, you hear a bit of a cough, put a mask on,” he mentioned.
— With information from Global News’ Katherine Ward
