'Tragic milestone' of COVID deaths looms in York Region

Yorkregion.com
May 31, 2022

York Region is approaching a “tragic milestone” of 1,000 deaths from COVID-19.

The number of deaths during this sixth wave has been lower than in previous waves thanks to excellent vaccination coverage, the region’s medical officer of health says, but there are still 10 to 20 deaths every day in Ontario and almost one a day in York Region.

Dr. Barry Pakes presented an update to regional council May 26. Here’s what you need to know.

How are we doing in our COVID battle?

Local wastewater data continues to decline and school absenteeism has dropped to under five per cent -- all good signs, Pakes said.

Case counts are currently about a third of what they were at the Omicron peak in January.

Why are numbers decreasing?

Pakes points to three main reasons.

1. Many people have had their and fourth vaccine doses and thus carry lower viral loads; less likely to spread.

2. About two thirds of Ontario residents have had COVID. That provides additional immunity.

3. Warmer weather means people are gathering indoors less.

Can we relax now?

There is still a lot of COVID in the community, Pakes said.

“People who are vulnerable or immunocompromised are still going to be exposed and those are the people we need to watch out for and care for.”

The virus is still presenting a very significant burden on our hospitals -- albeit about half of what it was a month ago -- and there are still 25 confirmed outbreaks in long-term care.

Who should be getting fourth boosters now?

About 61,000 fourth doses have been given out in the region so far, more than a third of 80-year-olds and a quarter of 70- to 79-year-olds.

About 100,000 people over 60 remain eligible.

 

“For those younger than that, it’s felt to be not as important, both because COVID is decreasing and because those in that age group are less at risk of severe outcomes. And generally, the protection from the first three doses wanes more slowly, so it’s more durable.”

If you are younger, you’d be better off getting your fourth booster, when available, in the fall, when cases are expected to rise again.

When can young children get their boosters?

On May 17, the FDA approved booster doses for five- to 11-year-olds.

“At this time,” Pakes said, “we are not planning on moving forward and will wait for more direction from the province.”

What treatments are available now?

There are several options in Ontario including Paxlovid and Evushield to protect against COVID, but vaccination remains the most effective way to combat the virus.

Anyone who is in a high-risk category -- 60 and over with hypertension, high blood pressure or diabetes for example -- who tests positive on a rapid test or was exposed to COVID and has symptoms, can go to their family doctor or assessment centre and access this medication.

Do I still need to self-isolate if sick?

Yes.

“It may not be required by law but … you definitely don’t want to pass it on to others,” Pakes said.

“People have demonstrated throughout York Region and across Canada that they do care about other people, they do not want other people to get ill.”

When can we stop masking?

Mask mandates in health care, transit and long-term care are scheduled to expire in Ontario June 11.

Individual health-care settings and transit organizations may elect to continue a mask mandate, Pakes said, and public health still strongly encourages masking in those settings as a way to keep case counts low and protect the vulnerable.

What does the future hold?

Providing we don’t see a more dangerous variant, or one that escapes vaccines, this summer, public health is predicting another wave in late fall as the population’s current immunity wanes.

“We are very much hoping over the summer that cases continue to drop because it may give more runway if things increase again.”