Canada’s top health official has said that the fast-spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19 may have peaked in the country.

Canada’s chief public health officer Dr Theresa Tam in a statement released on Friday said that there have been “early indications that infections may have peaked at the national level, including daily case counts, test positivity, Rt (or effective reproduction number), and wastewater surveillance trends”.

But the country continued to detect a large number of Covid infections, with around 24,000 cases being detected on Friday.

The average case count has decreased by 28 per cent compared with the previous week, according to Tam, but she warned that the 22 per cent test positivity rate indicates there is still “widespread” disease activity across the country.

“We still have some difficult weeks ahead and potential for more bumps along the way,” Tam said.

Several hospitals in Canada remained under strain, with growing hospitalisations.

Multiple Canadian provinces, including Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, have started easing restrictions that were imposed when the Omicron fuelled the fifth wave in the country.

However, there could still be “some difficult weeks ahead and potential for more bumps along the way”, Tam said, adding that vaccinations and several effective treatments have led health authorities to “remain hopeful” these would change the nature of the pandemic to “reduce severity going forward”.

An average of more than 10,000 people were being treated in the hospitals each day during the last seven days, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

(With inputs from agencies)

Canada’s top health official has said that the fast-spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19 may have peaked in the country. Canada’s chief public health officer Dr Theresa Tam in a statement released on Friday said that there have been “early indications that infections may have peaked at the national level, including daily case counts, test positivity, Rt (or effective reproduction number), and wastewater surveillance trends”.

Canada’s top health official has said that the fast-spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19 may have peaked in the country. Canada’s chief public health officer Dr Theresa Tam in a statement released on Friday said that there have been “early indications that infections may have peaked at the national level, including daily case counts, test positivity, Rt (or effective reproduction number), and wastewater surveillance trends”. But the country continued to detect a large number of Covid infections, with around 24,000 cases being detected on Friday. The average case count has decreased by 28 per cent compared with the previous week, according to Tam, but she warned that the 22 per cent test positivity rate indicates there is still “widespread” disease activity across the country. “We still have some difficult weeks ahead and potential for more bumps along the way,” Tam said. Several hospitals in Canada remained under strain, with growing hospitalisations. Multiple Canadian provinces, including Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, have started easing restrictions that were imposed when the Omicron fuelled the fifth wave in the country. However, there could still be “some difficult weeks ahead and potential for more bumps along the way”, Tam said, adding that vaccinations and several effective treatments have led health authorities to “remain hopeful” these would change the nature of the pandemic to “reduce severity going forward”. An average of more than 10,000 people were being treated in the hospitals each day during the last seven days, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. (With inputs from agencies)

Omicron wave may have peaked in Canada, says top health official

Quebec’s health minister Christian Dube has said that they are left with “no choice” but to allow some essential workers to continue work despite testing COVID-19 positive to stave off a staff shortage from affecting its healthcare services due to the Omicron surge.

Canada’s Quebec province has been reporting massive Covid spikes as the highly contagious Omicron drives a new wave of infections.

On Tuesday, the French-speaking province reported 12,833 new coronavirus cases—the highest one-day count of any region in Canada during the pandemic.

Health authorities have warned that the actual number of infections may be higher as the screening centres are overwhelmed and the rapid testing kits being used at home could mean that some cases are not being reported.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/omicron-spread-france-reports-record-of-nearly-180000-covid-19-cases-440820">Omicron spread: France reports record of nearly 180,000 COVID-19 cases</a>

Moreover, pandemic related hospitalisations have increased, putting the fragile health infra on the brink of a collapse.

“Omicron’s contagion is so exponential, that a huge number of personnel have to be withdrawn - and that poses a risk to the network capacity to treat Quebecers," Dube told reporters at a briefing on Tuesday.

“We made the decision that under a certain condition positive staff will be able to continue working according to a list of priority and risk management,” he said, adding that more information would be provided in the coming days.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/while-west-struggles-to-control-omicron-surge-indias-covid-tally-tells-a-different-story-440603" hreflang="en">While West struggles to control Omicron surge, India's covid tally tells a different story</a>

Dube said Quebec would also offer a third dose of a Covid-19 vaccine to everyone above the age of 18 from Jan 4.

Last week,&nbsp;Quebec ordered bars, gyms and casinos to shut and directed people to work only from home. It also limited the size of gatherings at private homes and restaurants to six people.

(With inputs from agencies)

Quebec’s health minister Christian Dube has said that they are left with “no choice” but to allow some essential workers to continue work despite testing COVID-19 positive to stave off a staff shortage from affecting its healthcare services due to the Omicron surge.

Quebec’s health minister Christian Dube has said that they are left with “no choice” but to allow some essential workers to continue work despite testing COVID-19 positive to stave off a staff shortage from affecting its healthcare services due to the Omicron surge. Canada’s Quebec province has been reporting massive Covid spikes as the highly contagious Omicron drives a new wave of infections. On Tuesday, the French-speaking province reported 12,833 new coronavirus cases—the highest one-day count of any region in Canada during the pandemic. Health authorities have warned that the actual number of infections may be higher as the screening centres are overwhelmed and the rapid testing kits being used at home could mean that some cases are not being reported. Also read | Omicron spread: France reports record of nearly 180,000 COVID-19 cases Moreover, pandemic related hospitalisations have increased, putting the fragile health infra on the brink of a collapse. “Omicron’s contagion is so exponential, that a huge number of personnel have to be withdrawn - and that poses a risk to the network capacity to treat Quebecers," Dube told reporters at a briefing on Tuesday. “We made the decision that under a certain condition positive staff will be able to continue working according to a list of priority and risk management,” he said, adding that more information would be provided in the coming days. Also Read: While West struggles to control Omicron surge, India's covid tally tells a different story Dube said Quebec would also offer a third dose of a Covid-19 vaccine to everyone above the age of 18 from Jan 4. Last week, Quebec ordered bars, gyms and casinos to shut and directed people to work only from home. It also limited the size of gatherings at private homes and restaurants to six people. (With inputs from agencies)

In this Canada province, health workers to continue work even after testing Covid positive

Canada has surpassed the grim landmark of recording 25,000 deaths due to the novel coronavirus on Tuesday.

The unfortunate landmark comes after the country's death toll&nbsp;with the third wave of the pandemic waning in the country amid the ongoing vaccination drive.

Canada had recorded its first coronavirus death on March 9. Health authorities are increasingly positive of a return to a semblance of normalcy over the summer and into autumn after&nbsp;three-quarters of eligible Canadians are fully vaccinated.

According to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, ''this summer once cases are low and at least 75 per cent&nbsp;of people have had one dose and 20% had a second, you can look forward to outdoor things.''

Approximately 55 per cent of its 37 million population had received at least one jab of the coronavirus vaccine, while 4 per cent have been completely inoculated.

Canada’s chief public health officer Dr Theresa Tam is&nbsp;also positive as she said Canada was ''making steady progress, with a 25 per cent&nbsp;decrease in reported active cases since the peak of the third&nbsp;wave in mid-April.''

However, she warned with regard to relaxation of restrictions: ''We’re not there yet, but I am really hopeful because of how fast some of the vaccines are going in the arms.''

More segments of the demographic&nbsp;in Canada are presently qualified for inoculations as the National Advisory Committee on Immunization or NACI has now suggested that the total two-jab&nbsp;regimen&nbsp;of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine can be given to those aged somewhere in the range of 12 and 18.&nbsp;

Health experts have additionally said that the individuals who got a punch of the AstraZeneca immunization as their first portion could have the choice of picking an alternate antibody for their second.

Canada has surpassed the grim landmark of recording 25,000 deaths due to the novel coronavirus on Tuesday. The unfortunate landmark comes after the country's death toll with the third wave of the pandemic waning in the country amid the ongoing vaccination drive.

Canada has surpassed the grim landmark of recording 25,000 deaths due to the novel coronavirus on Tuesday. The unfortunate landmark comes after the country's death toll with the third wave of the pandemic waning in the country amid the ongoing vaccination drive. Canada had recorded its first coronavirus death on March 9. Health authorities are increasingly positive of a return to a semblance of normalcy over the summer and into autumn after three-quarters of eligible Canadians are fully vaccinated. According to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, ''this summer once cases are low and at least 75 per cent of people have had one dose and 20% had a second, you can look forward to outdoor things.'' Approximately 55 per cent of its 37 million population had received at least one jab of the coronavirus vaccine, while 4 per cent have been completely inoculated. Canada’s chief public health officer Dr Theresa Tam is also positive as she said Canada was ''making steady progress, with a 25 per cent decrease in reported active cases since the peak of the third wave in mid-April.'' However, she warned with regard to relaxation of restrictions: ''We’re not there yet, but I am really hopeful because of how fast some of the vaccines are going in the arms.'' More segments of the demographic in Canada are presently qualified for inoculations as the National Advisory Committee on Immunization or NACI has now suggested that the total two-jab regimen of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine can be given to those aged somewhere in the range of 12 and 18. Health experts have additionally said that the individuals who got a punch of the AstraZeneca immunization as their first portion could have the choice of picking an alternate antibody for their second.

COVID-19 death toll in Canada surpasses grim mark of 25,000