Listen Live

Omicron to peak in Canada the next few weeks, hospital admissions 4 times December’s

Several intense weeks of COVID-19 activity is the federal government’s forecast for Canada’s next two months. 

That according to the Chief Public Health Officer who says the Omicron’s disease activity has eclipsed all previous waves/variants and is driving up severe illness trends despite being less severe than Delta.

Dr. Theresa Tam says hospitalizations are on the rise and are expected to continue, given the country’s record infection rates. 

She says since Ottawa’s last modeling update just over a month ago, virus-related hospitalizations have more than quadrupled to nearly 7,000 a day with critical care admissions doubling to nearly 900 a day. 

Tam says the federal government’s long-range projections have the country hitting the fifth wave’s peak in February with about 170,000 daily cases in the best case scenario and 300,000 in the worst case.  

Hospitalizations are also expected to peak shortly after at 5,000 daily admissions assuming Omicron hospital rates are the same as Delta’s and 2,000 daily admissions if it’s 40 percent of Delta’s rates. 

Tam says the short-term forecast has Canada adding over half a million new COVID-19 cases by the end of January.

As opposed to previous weeks when infection rates were highest among 5 to 11-year-olds who were just becoming eligible for vaccination, she says incidence rates are now higher among Canadians aged 20-39 years.

***With files from Mo Fahim

Continue Reading

cjsu Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Former North Cowichan mayor receives Freedom of the Municipality award

The Municipality of North Cowichan has awarded the Freedom of the Municipality,  its highest honour, to a longtime community leader for his many years of public service.

Duncan Fire Department’s responses highest in third quarter 

An increase in the amount of fire calls have been reported to the City of Duncan for the third quarter.

Ladysmith RCMP report an increase in calls compared to last year 

A quarterly report shows crime in Ladysmith is trending upwards, but not in all areas.

Cowichan Aquatic Centre repairs complete, but more work needs to be done 

Cowichan Aquatic Centre upgrades are in the home stretch, but it still requires a few more tweaks.

Contactless payments coming soon to BC Transit riders

Bus riders may soon have an easier way to pay for their fare, as BC Transit prepares to roll out contactless debit and credit card payments across its network through the Umo fare system.
- Advertisement -