'A lot' of COVID-19, flu circulating in Ontario right now: Moore
There is a lot of COVID-19 circulating in Ontario right now, and levels of both that virus and influenza are on the rise, set to peak over the holiday season, the province's top doctor said Monday.
This is a key week for immunizing against both viruses, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said, as it takes 10 to 14 days for protection to take effect.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
"I want to acknowledge that many people are tired of COVID, but it's not tired of us," Moore said in an interview.
"Certainly we're seeing lots of COVID activity across Ontario. Our metrics for last week were that we had 1,700 people in hospital, around 100 of them requiring intensive care."
That level is lower than at this time last year, but at that time COVID-19 activity was on a downswing, whereas now, it's on the rise, Moore said.
About 1.8 million Ontarians have received the updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall, but that's just 13 per cent of the eligible population and 40 per cent of people over 65.
"Of the hospitalizations both for influenza and COVID, the risk is really associated with age the older that you are, the better protected we need you to be from those two infections through immunizations," he said.
"That leaves 60 per cent of our adults over 65 not protected at present and that's got me anxious as we head into the holiday season."
The rate of people getting COVID-19 vaccinations peaked three weeks ago, he said.
Flu activity is also on the rise, Moore said.
"It's anticipated, unlike last year, that influenza is following a more traditional pattern where it will be most active over the coming holiday and New Year's season, and so it'll be most transmissible in those social settings that are coming up," he said.
Moore does not intend to enact any public health measures.
Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health, speaks at a press conference at the legislature in Toronto on Monday, April 11, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
"I think we'll just continue the risk communication and the measures that people can take in terms of layers of protection, and access to medications," he said.
For COVID-19, there were 6,000 doses of Paxlovid dispensed last week, he said.
When it comes to the triple surge of COVID-19, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus that hit children hard last year and put pressure on children's hospitals, authorities have worked to ensure there won't be any shortages of children's Tylenol, Moore said.
"The system at large, I think, is prepared for this surge," he said.
"I do worry, though, as we head into influenza, that will be an extra burden on those hospitals."
There are also more than 200 people in hospital with RSV, roughly half of them children four years old and under and half people over 65.
Health Canada has approved an RSV vaccine for people aged 60 and older, but it is only available free of charge to people in that age group living in long-term care homes, Elder Care Lodges and retirement homes licensed to provide dementia care services.
The out-of-pocket cost for the medication can be over $250.
The government is looking at expanding public funding for the vaccine to alternative level of care patients in hospital -- people who can be discharged to a long-term care home, for example, but don't yet have a spot -- and/or dialysis patients, Moore said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2023
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6978861.1722008569!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
At least 4 buildings burned at Jasper Park Lodge, others damaged: Fairmont memo
The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge said Thursday afternoon most of its structures are "standing and intact," including its iconic main lodge.
Major Canadian bank dealing with direct deposit outage on pay day
Scotiabank has acknowledged technical difficulties affecting direct deposits as clients report missed payments Friday morning. On Friday morning, the bank's client services phone line was playing an automated message assuring customers that work was underway to rectify the outage.
Federal government posts $3.9B deficit in April, May
The result for the April-to-May period compared to a $1.5 billion surplus for the same stretch last year.
Elon Musk's estranged daughter calls out his 'entirely fake' claims about her childhood
Vivian Jenna Wilson, Elon Musk's estranged daughter, publicly refuted several recent anti-trans statements her Tesla CEO and X owner father has made about her.
Reported rate of child pornography increased 52% in 2023, total crime up 3%: Statistics Canada
Last year, reported child pornography cases increased by more than 50 per cent in Canada, in part due to more cases being sent to police by specialized internet child exploitation units, according to a Statistics Canada report.
What we know about 'malicious' attack on French train network ahead of Olympics opening
French transport was thrust into chaos Friday just hours ahead of the Olympics 2024 opening ceremony after a series of co-ordinated 'malicious acts' upended high-speed train lines.Here's what happened and what we know so far.
Canada Soccer head investigating 'systemic ethical shortcoming' amid spying scandal
Canada Soccer chief executive officer Kevin Blue said he was investigating a potential 'systemic ethical shortcoming' within the program but has not considered pulling the women's soccer team from the Paris Olympics due to a drone spying scandal.
Trump campaign says it won't commit to Harris debate until she's confirmed as nominee
The Trump campaign said Thursday it would not commit to any future debates until the Democratic Party formally chooses a nominee.
Thousands of fans take place along River Seine for rainy Olympic opening ceremony
Fans have started to claim their spots along the River Seine ahead of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.