Has Omicron peaked in Toronto? City's top doctor says there is reason for 'cautious optimism'
Several public health indicators are now suggesting that the spread of the Omicron variant in Toronto may have already peaked but the city’s top doctor is warning that the strain on the health-care system is likely to continue into February.
Toronto’s rolling seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases has dropped by 23 per cent over the last week and now stands at 1,414.
The number only captures a portion of COVID-19 cases because of the limited eligibility for PCR testing but when taken in concert with other indicators, including wastewater data and a drop in the positivity rate, it may point to an Omicron-fuelled fourth wave that is beginning to recede.
At least that is the suggestion that was made by Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa during a briefing at city hall on Thursday morning.
“All of these COVID-19 indicators, our seven-day moving average, test positivity and wastewater surveillance, are high. But there are decreases that provide reasons for cautious optimism,” she said.
“While these are encouraging developments, it is still too early to confirm whether the Omicron wave has peaked. The experience of other jurisdictions suggests that this will occur sometime in January.
Toronto saw a rapid rise in case counts as the Omicron variant took hold in December, however the metric became less useful once the province significantly scaled back the eligibility for free PCR testing at the end of Dec. 2021.
In its place, public health officials have increasingly been turning to wastewater surveillance to get an idea of the overall level of infection in a given community and De Villa said that data is pointing to “a potential plateau or even a slight decline in virus activity detected in Toronto.”
“As additional data become available in the coming week I expect we will have a clearer picture,” she said. “For now we must remain vigilant. Since Tuesday hospitalizations, ICU admissions and outbreaks have risen and healthcare system capacity remains strained. We can expect this trend to continue into February, even after cases peak and we need to continue to do all that we can to preserve our health system's capacity during this very challenging time.”
MAJOR VACCINE PUSH PLANNED FOR THIS WEEKEND
De Villa’s comments on Thursday come ahead of a weekend vaccine push dubbed “Vax The Northwest” scheduled for York University’s Aviva Centre on Sunday.
The city has said that in order to promote the clinic they will be sending 8,000 text messages to residents 50 and up who live nearby and are due for their third dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
The city has also said that it will be partnering with the TTC to have 15 dedicated buses running between the clinic and 11 different community hubs.
“Any time you have a campaign of any kind the first part goes a little more easy and it is sort of a build it and they will come but as you get to the latter stages of any campaign it gets harder and there are sometimes reasons that are just human nature and there are other times reasons that have to do with accessibility or hesitancy,” Mayor John Tory said during Thursday’s briefing. “That is why we are using every tool in our toolbox. And not just communications tools like texts but also the community ambassadors who quite literally go to the doors of people and are in a position where they can explain and reassure people with respect to the vaccinations.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Live updates: What star witness in Trump hush money case has said on the stand so far
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial took the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
When you have a moment's notice to evacuate, what do you take?
Knowing what to have at home, or take with you for an evacuation, can be useful and even life-saving.
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.’s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease’s progression.
Canucks' Soucy suspended 1 game, Zadorov fined $5,000 for post-game crosschecks on McDavid
A Vancouver Canucks defenceman has been suspended for a game and another was handed a hefty fine after a scrum broke out at the end of Game 3 against the Edmonton Oilers Sunday night.
'Judge Judy' Sheindlin sues for defamation over National Enquirer, InTouch Weekly stories
'Judge Judy' Sheindlin sued the parent company of the National Enquirer and InTouch Weekly on Monday for a story that she said falsely claimed that she was trying to help the Menendez brothers get a retrial after they were convicted of murdering their parents.
'Ready to go': Fort McMurray residents prepared for evacuation as crews battle nearby wildfire
An evacuation alert remains in place in the Fort McMurray area on Monday afternoon.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.