COVID-19 infections are soaring and hospitalizations are rising in many parts of Canada, but with most regions staying the course on relaxed protective measures, providing less data and fewer updates, some medical experts are critical of how the sixth wave of the pandemic is being managed.
With public messaging and inadequate epidemiological data suggesting we are now 鈥榣iving with COVID-19鈥, doctors and other health experts say it is very difficult for the public to make informed personal decisions.
鈥淕etting a real idea of what's going on across Canada is getting harder and harder 鈥 It's getting to a point that if you want to assess your own risk, it's going to be impossible to do,鈥 Julie Lajoie, a research associate in medical microbiology at the University of Manitoba with a PhD in virology and immunology, told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview on April 11.
鈥淩ight now, many places across Canada are moving to that idea of living with the virus, making it sound like that virus is now in an endemic phase. Which it鈥檚 not. We are still really in a pandemic, it鈥檚 worldwide.鈥
For the situation to become endemic, Lajoie says there should no longer be a large influx of hospital patients. The flu does not cause this level of hospitalization, she said, adding that despite people鈥檚 eagerness to compare COVID-19 to a cold, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is very different.
鈥淎 cold doesn鈥檛 increase your risk of having heart disease. A cold doesn鈥檛 increase your risk of a blood clot three to six months after an infection. A cold doesn鈥檛 increase your risk of diabetes. And even if it鈥檚 really mild, COVID does increase those risks.鈥
Dr. Cecile Tremblay, an infectious diseases specialist at the Centre hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal (CHUM) and a professor at the University of Montreal, told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview that current numbers do not reflect the scope of the pandemic, which can confuse the public into assuming the virus is not circulating widely.
鈥淯nfortunately, there is no sense of urgency in the population,鈥 Tremblay said, due in part to the public being understandably fed up with measures and wanting a return to normalcy.
Government messaging has also given an impression that 鈥渋t's no longer an emergency or it's no longer important,鈥 she added.
鈥淭his is unfortunate because it's still very, very important because the virus is circulating at levels almost similar to those seen in the fifth wave. And we know that some people are going to die and some people are going to get very, very sick.鈥
Quebec, one of the few provinces that still has a mask mandate in place, currently has the highest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Canada, with 1,793 patients admitted for care as of April 11. In January, the province鈥檚 public health director Horacio Arruda resigned, admitting to an 鈥渆rosion鈥 in public trust.
Earlier this month, Canada鈥檚 chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said during a federal COVID-19 briefing that case data was 鈥渕ore unstable鈥 making the accuracy of estimates more challenging, even though the core message about a resurgence and its impact remained unchanged. Unlike previous briefings, modelling projections were not given.
Tam stressed that mortality surveillance remained very important, and that Canada needed 鈥渢o do better.鈥 Developing a good, consistent approach for reporting data at this stage of the pandemic was also crucial, she said.
鈥淚鈥檒l be really disappointed if we 鈥 went backwards and let go of the actual gains that we made during this pandemic, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to make sure we鈥檙e strengthening that kind of reporting going forward,鈥 she said.
While hospitalization and deaths remain important data points, Lajoie notes they are both lagging indicators and that 鈥渟ome provinces have not been really good on reporting that.鈥 Manitoba, for example, is no longer reporting data on a daily basis and has moved instead to weekly reports, while wastewater data is only available for Winnipeg and not provided weekly.
, gave his first public news conference in nearly a month on April 11, making a 鈥渟trong recommendation鈥 to continue wearing a well-fitted, three-layer or medical mask in all public indoor settings. He also expanded the criteria of who could be eligible for PCR testing and antiviral treatments like Paxlovid. But it was not enough for those medical health experts who took to Twitter with their concerns.
鈥淗e鈥檚 chosen really not to do much and he thinks we鈥檙e going to have 600 patients in Ontario鈥檚 ICUs. And I鈥檓 really confused why he鈥檚 accepting that future without doing what鈥檚 necessary to protect people,鈥 Dr. Michael Warner, an intensive care physician at Michael Garron Hospital,
Warner noted that, during the fifth wave, Moore had issued a directive to all hospitals to cancel non-emergency surgery when there were 260 COVID-19 patients in the ICU. That figure later peaked at 594 in late January. There were 184 ICU patients as of April 11.
鈥淚f we're on that trajectory, if his data is telling him that, and we don't change anything, that's really concerning to me,鈥 Warner said.
鈥淚t means that surgeries will likely be cancelled and those patients with non-COVID care needs will be waiting and waiting and getting sicker and sicker and that鈥檚 not fair.鈥
Colin Furness, an epidemiologist with the University of Toronto鈥檚 Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation also criticised Moore for underplaying the virus鈥 impact, particularly on children, tweeting that, 鈥渢here is plenty of scientific evidence about the vascular and neuro harm of COVID **even** when the respiratory phase is mild.鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 miles beyond negligent to frame COVID as only a respiratory virus,鈥 he added.
Last week, Furness told 麻豆影视 Channel, 鈥渢he government narrative 鈥 which is, 鈥檛here isn't much COVID, there is no pandemic, there is no wave, everything's fine鈥 鈥 this is a dreadful, really, really dreadful way to mislead the public into dropping their guard and becoming ill. That's a huge problem.鈥
At least one public health unit appears to be taking proactive measures to communicate with its local community. Peterborough Public Health launched its own COVID-19 community risk index two weeks ago, which tells the public what the current risk level for transmission is in the region. It also gives a risk level assessment for the different COVID-19 indicators including case rate, hospitalizations, wastewater surveillance, and test positivity.
Other public health units also continue to recommend masking and vaccinations. Ottawa Public Health unit told CTVNews.ca in an email on Friday that it has informed Moore of the 鈥渃oncerning levels of COVID-19 in Ottawa鈥 and was advised that 鈥渁t this time they are carefully monitoring the impact on health system capacity to guide their action.鈥
Ottawa Public Health also said it continues to promote vaccination, masking indoors, keeping gathering sizes small, and 鈥渦rges residents to avoid crowded places and closed spaces and to limit time indoors with others.鈥
Many health professionals say they are not looking for a return to lockdowns, but are calling for better policies and messaging. They say provinces should keep the public regularly informed about the epidemiology, continue to remind people about simple, protective actions like mask-wearing, continue to advocate for vaccinations, and stress the effectiveness of booster shots at preventing severe infection. Canada鈥檚 booster rate of approximately 50 per cent for the third shot is not enough, they add.
鈥淲e need to redefine across the country what 鈥榝ully vaccinated鈥 means,鈥 Warner said.
鈥淣ot for mandates or passports but just because the nomenclature matters. What you call something is important. And this is a three-shot series. Let's call it like it is. Get your third shot because to be fully vaccinated you need three shots.鈥
He also said mask mandates should be reinstated in essential places like schools, grocery stores and pharmacies.
鈥淧eople who are medically frail or immunocompromised have a right to get their medicines, get food, have their kids and grandkids come home from school from a maximally safe environment,鈥 he said.
鈥淚 think that's fair. And I don't think it's too much of an incursion on other people. I think it's easy.鈥
There is also an economic cost to current policies as well, experts say, from employees having to miss work and care for their sick child or getting sick themselves.
鈥淚 do understand the necessity to go back to a more normal life and that it's probably not necessary to start lockdowns and closing enterprises. But there is a difference between doing that and not doing anything at all,鈥 Tremblay said.
鈥淧eople have to keep in mind that they still need to keep their masks, to try to keep social distancing, get their third dose or their fourth dose of vaccination. And also if they are symptomatic, to stay home and stop spreading the disease. These messages need to be repeated. Unfortunately, they need to be repeated regularly. And we haven't seen this enough in the past few weeks.鈥
A $2.14-billion federal loan for an Ottawa-based satellite operator has Canadian politicians arguing about whether American billionaire Elon Musk poses a national security risk.
Specialist divers surveying the wreckage of the US$40 million superyacht that sank off Sicily in August, killing seven people including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, have asked for heightened security to guard the vessel, over concerns that sensitive data locked in its safes may interest foreign governments, multiple sources told CNN.
Twenty-seven year 麻豆影视 reporter and anchor John Vennavally-Rao shares his story of what it was like to have an ostomy bag as part of his health-care battle. 'I鈥檓 grateful for what it did to extend my life,' he writes in a personal column for CTVNews.ca.
The British Columbia election campaign is set to officially start today, with Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin issuing the writ for the Oct. 19 vote.
A northern Ontario man is facing a $12,000 fine after illegally shooting a moose near the Batchawan River.
A new study is adding to emerging research showing that exposure to metals such as cadmium, uranium and copper may also be associated with the leading cause of death worldwide, cardiovascular disease.
Unusual flippered feet are making their way into the Saint Lawrence River this weekend. Led by underwater explorer and filmmaker Nathalie Lasselin, volunteer divers are combing the riverbed near Beauharnois in Mont茅r茅gie to remove hundreds of tires that have been polluting the aquatic environment for decades.
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah announced that it fired a barrage of missiles at a military base deep inside Israel early Sunday following an Israeli airstrike more than a day earlier that killed at least 37 people, including one of the militant group鈥檚 senior leaders as well as women and children.
A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.
A man is facing numerous drug trafficking charges after Dufferin OPP seized a large assortment of drugs and weapons in Orangeville earlier this week.
The London Police Service (LPS) is currently investigating a suspicious death in the east end.
The British Columbia election campaign is set to officially start today, with Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin issuing the writ for the Oct. 19 vote.
A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.
A northern Ontario man is facing a $12,000 fine after illegally shooting a moose near the Batchawan River.
A body has been found in the vicinity where a woman went missing on the Ottawa River near Pembroke, Ont. while kayaking Tuesday night, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
Donald Trump returned to North Carolina on Saturday, stumping in the southern battleground state with direct appeals to women, claiming he would be a better champion for them than U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, who is vying to become the first female president.
Sheba, a 50-year-old seal at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in southwest England, has far surpassed the average lifespan for seals and could be the oldest in captivity in the world.
The more Chelsea Walsh talked to the eccentric fellow American who seemed to pop up in every square and cobblestone street of Ukraine's capital, the more she got creeped out.
Specialist divers surveying the wreckage of the US$40 million superyacht that sank off Sicily in August, killing seven people including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, have asked for heightened security to guard the vessel, over concerns that sensitive data locked in its safes may interest foreign governments, multiple sources told CNN.
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah announced that it fired a barrage of missiles at a military base deep inside Israel early Sunday following an Israeli airstrike more than a day earlier that killed at least 37 people, including one of the militant group鈥檚 senior leaders as well as women and children.
A $2.14-billion federal loan for an Ottawa-based satellite operator has Canadian politicians arguing about whether American billionaire Elon Musk poses a national security risk.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says close to 45,000 Canadians are in Lebanon, months after warning there is no guarantee Ottawa can evacuate them if the situation deteriorates further.
The federal firearm buyback program has cost taxpayers nearly $67.2 million since it was announced in 2020, but it still hasn't collected a single gun.
A new study is adding to emerging research showing that exposure to metals such as cadmium, uranium and copper may also be associated with the leading cause of death worldwide, cardiovascular disease.
For some young people, a popular method for getting a quick high is by misusing laughing gas 鈥 and lately, that鈥檚 in the form of nitrous oxide from products sold by the company Galaxy Gas.
Looking after an adult with severe autism can be a full-time job. Ask any parent who has a child severely affected by autism spectrum disorder 鈥 it鈥檚 a job that can get more difficult as the child becomes an adult.
If something looks too good to be true, it might be. That's the message from Saskatchewan horticulturists after customers have come into their stores hoping to buy purple apple trees this month.
The owner of the shuttered Three Mile Island nuclear power plant said Friday that it plans to restart the reactor under a 20-year agreement that calls for tech giant Microsoft to buy the power to supply its data centers with carbon-free energy.
Lebanese authorities on Thursday banned walkie-talkies and pagers from being taken on flights from Beirut airport, the National News Agency reported, after thousands of such devices exploded during a deadly attack on Hezbollah this week.
Kathryn Crosby, who appeared in such movies as 'The 7th Voyage of Sinbad', 'Anatomy of a Murder,' and 'Operation Mad Ball' before marrying famed singer and Oscar-winning actor Bing Crosby, has died. She was 90.fff
'Saturday Night Live' will have a slew of famous faces to help kick off its historic 50th season when the show returns later this month.
The death of the Tragically Hip鈥檚 lead singer Gord Downie united fans across Canada in their grief, but in many ways pulled his bandmates apart.
It is not a great time to be a coffee drinker. In general, coffee bean prices are the highest they've been in more than a decade.
The maker of the popular party game Cards Against Humanity is accusing Elon Musk's SpaceX of trespassing on and damaging a plot of vacant land the company owns in Texas.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says a recall of Nutrabolics brand Feed Me Vegan Real Food Protein & Oats bars due to undeclared milk has been expanded.
Tattoos are becoming more common in today's society and, as a result, appear to be more acceptable in the workplace than they used to be.
The end of the day 鈥 when school, extracurricular activities and homework are (hopefully) finally done 鈥 is the window that many kids have for downtime. It can be a struggle to convince them not to go on their phones.
While slang may come and go, experts say the phenomenon behind them, which constantly churns out brand-new bon mots, is as old as language itself.
Jonathan Aranda homered for the second consecutive game, helping Taj Bradley and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Saturday.
Kiefer Sherwood spent several nights last spring chasing Quinn Hughes around the ice and generally pestering the Vancouver Canucks.
Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.
General Motors (GM) has issued a recall for 38,000 vehicles for safety risks related to a software glitch, Transport Canada reported in a notice on Wednesday.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has accused Tesla CEO Elon Musk of 'remotely disabling' his Cybertruck, which had been sent to the frontline of Russia's war in Ukraine.
An Ontario man says it is 'unfair' to pay a $1,500 insurance surcharge because his four-year-old SUV is at a higher risk of being stolen.
Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.
Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.
An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.
They say a dog is a man鈥檚 best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.
A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.
Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.
The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.
It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.
A six-year-old girl who was reported missing in northern B.C. earlier this week remains unaccounted for, and "significant resources from across the province" have joined in the search, police said Saturday.
Volunteers and staff members gathered along Vancouver鈥檚 Stanley Park Seawall Saturday to pick up litter as part of International Coastal Cleanup Day.
A heritage home in Vancouver suffered "extensive damage" in a fire that broke out late Saturday morning, according to firefighters.
A 23-year-old man has been arrested after one person was found dead at a home in Richmond Hill Saturday morning.
Toronto police say they have now identified a third person who they believe was involved in a shooting that left two men dead in North York earlier this week.
A man is fighting for his life in hospital a day after a vehicle smashed into several others in and around an intersection in Milton before flipping over.
Milla White from Cochrane literally drew her way into a meeting with former boxer and actor Mickey Rourke.
The water coming from your taps might be a bit murky Saturday, but Calgary remains on schedule to end all water restrictions on Sunday.
For 12 hours Saturday Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPCK) employees, service personnel and corporate teams rode spin bikes to raise funds and awareness for charities focusing on housing homeless veterans in Canada and the U.S.
A potential move to LeBreton Flats for the Ottawa Senators is still years away, but questions and concerns are already being raised about what to do with the Canadian Tire Centre.
The Taste of Wellington 2024 wraps up Saturday in Ottawa.
A body has been found in the vicinity where a woman went missing on the Ottawa River near Pembroke, Ont. while kayaking Tuesday night, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
Montrealers can get used to taking a stroll on several car-free streets during the summer in the years to come thanks to a new commitment from the city.
Three men were injured after trying to subdue a man armed with a knife during afternoon prayers at a Montreal-area mosque Friday afternoon.
Unusual flippered feet are making their way into the Saint Lawrence River this weekend. Led by underwater explorer and filmmaker Nathalie Lasselin, volunteer divers are combing the riverbed near Beauharnois in Mont茅r茅gie to remove hundreds of tires that have been polluting the aquatic environment for decades.
The Edmonton Police Service is looking for a person of interest in connection with a suspicious fire that destroyed a multi-unit building and damaged several townhomes earlier this week.
Tattoos are becoming more common in today's society and, as a result, appear to be more acceptable in the workplace than they used to be.
Two people have been charged after a daylight shooting in Red Deer earlier this week.
Halifax Regional Police warned the public of a series of high-value thefts targeting retail stores Friday.
Pictou County District RCMP is investigating a fatal crash that occurred in Thorburn, N.S., Saturday.
A proposal for additional parking to accommodate upgrades at the Irving Pulp & Paper Mill in Saint John, N.B., would add an estimated 500 parking spots at Wolastoq Park.
The search for a missing six-year-old boy in Shamattawa is continuing Friday as RCMP hope recent tips can help lead to a happy conclusion.
A herd of dogs paid visit to patients and residents at Riverview Health Centre during an annual event that lifts spirits and wags tails.
While slang may come and go, experts say the phenomenon behind them, which constantly churns out brand-new bon mots, is as old as language itself.
Fire officials are investigating after a fire completely destroyed the community fridge in the Cathedral neighborhood.
The last two months after losing her daughter Bella have been extremely difficult for Kyla Thomson.
Regina police arrested three youths in connection to a bear mace incident at a Regina high school on Friday.
The Cambridge Professional Fire Fighters鈥 Association held their annual Muscular Dystrophy Boot Drive on Saturday.
Protests were held in front of Kitchener City Hall on Friday, both for and against LGBTQ2S+ inclusive education and queer rights in schools.
Police said the pedestrian, a 52-year-old man, was taken to an out-of-region hospital with life-threatening injuries and the driver of the vehicle failed to remain at the scene.
The 75-year-old building, formerly the Waskesiu Chamber of Commerce building, was relocated to the Parks Canada compound on the edge of the townsite.
Saskatchewan RCMP major crimes unit is investigating after a man鈥檚 body was found on Sweetgrass First Nation.
Motors were roaring, and tires were spinning as Saskatoon's biggest names in motocross gathered together for the 50-year anniversary of the club's founding on Saturday.
Ontario鈥檚 police watchdog is investigating after an Ontario Provincial Police officer discharged his firearm at a 36-year-old man in near Moonbeam, Ont., on Friday night.
For some young people, a popular method for getting a quick high is by misusing laughing gas 鈥 and lately, that鈥檚 in the form of nitrous oxide from products sold by the company Galaxy Gas.
An Ontario woman is among the dozens of people who have come forward to allege that they were sexually abused by London-based businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, the former chairman and owner of Harrods.
A motorcyclist has died following a serious collision that took place in London鈥檚 south end on Friday afternoon.
The London Police Service (LPS) is currently investigating a suspicious death in the east end.
The St. Thomas police is asking the public for help locating a missing man.
The Barrie Skateboard Association (BSA) hosted a unique competition at the City's Skate Park on Saturday to celebrate its 25th anniversary, which showcased the park's importance and the growth of skateboarding in the region.
A man is facing numerous drug trafficking charges after Dufferin OPP seized a large assortment of drugs and weapons in Orangeville earlier this week.
One person is in hospital after an e-bike crash in Orillia on Thursday.
The Amherstburg Freedom Museum is celebrating a year of festivities in anticipation of its 50th anniversary in 2025.
The St. Clair College golf teams were successful at the Niagara Knights Invitational tournament on Friday.
A LaSalle high school is celebrating its emerald anniversary this weekend, with everyone who has ever walked its halls invited to return.
A man who was found dead behind a curling rink in Nanaimo, B.C., earlier this month was the victim of a homicide, police confirmed.
A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.
A six-year-old girl who was reported missing in northern B.C. earlier this week remains unaccounted for, and "significant resources from across the province" have joined in the search, police said Saturday.
A pair of runaway pigs are in the custody of an animal sanctuary in the Okanagan after evading police and volunteers for hours earlier this week.
The Red Bridge, a historic landmark in Kamloops, B.C., was completely destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.
Animal protection officers in British Columbia have rescued three pit bulls 鈥 including one that gave birth to 10 puppies 鈥 from a rat-infested home in Kelowna.
Despite the heavy rain, plenty of muscle turned up for United Way鈥檚 annual Pull the Bus fundraiser in Lethbridge Friday.
Lethbridge County has rescinded its fire restriction as a result of the recent cool, wet weathr.
The Lethbridge Hurricanes kicked off the 2024-25 season on a winning note Friday night, defeating the Edmonton Oil Kings 3-1 in a game played at VisitLethbridge.com Arena.
A northern Ontario man is facing a $12,000 fine after illegally shooting a moose near the Batchawan River.
Following an outbreak of COVID-19 on its continuing care floor and just ahead of the flu season, St. Joseph鈥檚 General Hospital in Elliot Lake has opted to re-introduce a universal masking policy until further notice.
A 26-year-old driver from Surrey, B.C., has been charged with three counts of criminal negligence causing death and bodily harm in a crash that killed two youths in northern Ontario last year.
Newfoundland and Labrador's chief medical officer is monitoring the rise of whooping cough infections across the province as cases of the highly contagious disease continue to grow across Canada.
A 16-year-old biennial event aimed at fostering business in the country's eastern Arctic and northern regions has been cancelled indefinitely as a dispute unfolds between Inuit in Canada and a Labrador group claiming to share their heritage.
Jim Lester鈥檚 farm hopped on the cow-cuddling trend in early August, and his time slots have been pretty well sold out ever since.
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at 麻豆影视. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.聽Read about us.
