Seems like we all know someone who had to cancel events and stay home throughout the holidays because of COVID.

Many more people also seem to be showing up wearing a mask. An infectious diseases researcher and associate professor at the University of Toronto is keeping a close eye on the virus for the latest Canadian COVID forecast.

Tara Moriarity says the number of cases in Newfoundland and Labrador is similar to the case volume in other jurisdictions in Canada.

The incidence of COVID dropped by about 15 per cent last year from 2022, and she hopes to see a similar reduction this year although nobody knows for sure just what the final numbers for 2024 will be.

Moriarity says many of us are not getting the new vaccine doses as the vaccination rate is really low right across Canada including in Newfoundland and Labrador.