The province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health says it’s hard to say what has contributed to a recent spike in COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths, but says overall, incidence rates in the province remain relatively stable.
The province reported 18 new hospitalizations last week and nine deaths over the preceding week due to COVID-19.
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says despite those numbers, they remain low compared to the overall population. She says sometimes, not all of the information reported in a certain week occurred over the previous seven days.
In the meantime, Public Health is continuing to monitor the incidence of COVID across the province.
Testing is carried out in acute care settings, wastewater is also monitored and citizens are encouraged to report positive results from rapid tests, “that does help us” says Fitzgerald.
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Federal health officials are urging Canadians to wear face masks indoors as the incidence of respiratory viruses surge, placing added stress on Canadian hospitals.
Cases of influenza, RSV and enterovirus are circulating in this province as well. Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says while the Public Health Emergency that allowed officials to mandate masks during the pandemic is now over, it’s always wise to exercise various levels of protection against illness as the temperature drops and people spend more time indoors.
She says wearing a mask remains one of their top recommendations for people who may be at risk of contracting, or spreading illness.
Dr. Fitzgerald expects to see the incidence of a variety of respiratory illnesses, including COVID, to increase as the holiday season approaches, and peak early in the new year.
