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COVID-19 Update for Canada

Calgary protest, August 1, 2021, against lifting of Alberta public health guidelines.

Since the start of the pandemic, 1,428,683 cases of COVID-19 and 26,570 deaths have been reported in Canada by the Public Health Agency of Canada according to its latest update, July 29. Variants of concern represent the majority of recently reported COVID-19 cases, including B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma), and B.1.617.2 (Delta), which have been detected in most provinces and territories.

Despite alarming spikes in Alberta, the government announced the lifting of most public health guidelines related to the pandemic, including that by mid-August, there will be no requirement for infected individuals to quarantine and no testing until symptoms are severe. This is being opposed by politicians, physicians, health care workers, teachers, unions and other organizations, who have been holding daily rallies (with social distancing and masking) since the day after the announcement, and by others across the country.

The July 29 seven-day moving average of 594 new cases reported daily (July 22-28), shows an increase of 39 per cent over the previous week. Severe illness trends continue to decline, with the latest provincial and territorial data showing that an average of 486 people with COVID-19 were being treated in Canadian hospitals each day during that same period, which is 12 per cent fewer than in the prior week. As well, on average, 228 people were being treated in intensive care units, 8 per cent fewer than the previous week. An average of eight deaths were reported daily.

Public Health Canada reiterates that as jurisdictions begin to ease restrictions, risks and circumstances are not the same everywhere and following local public health advice continues to be important, regardless of vaccination status. While COVID-19 is still circulating in Canada and internationally, core public health measures and individual protective practices can help to reduce the spread: stay home/self-isolate if you have symptoms; be aware of risks associated with different settings; avoid non-essential travel outside Canada; and maintain individual protective practices such as physical distancing and wearing a well-fitted and properly worn face mask, as appropriate.


This article was published in

Volume 51 Number 8 - August 1, 2021

Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2021/Articles/M510085.HTM


    

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