Studies claim that about one in five households have had at least one case of COVID-19 in the last two months in Canada, highlighting the extreme transmissibility of the Omicron variant.
The new study from the Angus Reid Institute estimates that approximately 21 per cent of Canadian households reported at least one case of COVID-19 since December 1, with an additional 5 per cent likely to have been infected during that period.
As of January 31, 2022, the Northwestern Health Unit has reported a total of 3,345 confirmed COVID-19 cases across their catchment area, with 259 cases considered as active.
The Kenora Health Hub has seen the most cases at 1,185, with Sioux Lookout reporting 761, Fort Frances with 395, Dryden with 316, Red Lake with 129, Rainy River with 128, Emo with 116 and 51 in Atikokan, with 5 others reported since March of 2020.
Thankfully, Canada’s top doctor, Theresa Tam, has said that indicators show the fourth wave of COVID-19 has likely peaked in Canada, after the national seven-day average of new cases went down nearly 30 per cent last week and the test positivity rate dropped 14 per cent.
This comes as a majority of Canadians, 54 per cent, say now is the time to remove COVID-19 restrictions and let Canadians manage their own level of risk, an increase of 15 per cent since the same question was asked to Canadians earlier this month.
Ontario’s top doctor, Kieran Moore, seemed to agree with the sentiment during a news conference on January 27.
“In the face of Omicron, I absolutely think we have to start to understand we have to learn to live with this virus and we’ve let our lives be controlled for the last two years in a significant amount of fear, and now we’re going to have to change some of that thinking,” said Dr. Moore.
While Ontario still hasn’t provided any timeline for removing masks or the proof of vaccination system, they are still aiming to loosen restrictions by February 21, if public health trends continue to improve.
Step three of the province’s reopening plan is then set to take effect by March 14, where Ontario will remove all capacity limits in indoor settings, but proof of vaccination will still be in effect.