The number of new daily cases of COVID-19 in Canada has dropped by 70 % since mid-April.
There are now an average of 2700 cases per day. Last month, that number was 9,000 cases per day.
That "considerable decline in infection rates" is linked to vaccine uptake rates "increasing in leaps and bounds" in combination with strict public health measures in most provinces. Fifty-eight percent of Canadians have received at least one dose of a vaccine. ( Dr. Theresa Tam)
The average number of patients with COVID-19 being treated in hospital each day has dropped by 40 per cent since the peak in April.
PLUMMETING!
Make no mistake, this dramatic decline is due, for the most part, to vaccines. Thank you to everyone who has lined up to be vaccinated.
Some not so good news:
Once we get to herd immunity ( 75% vaccinated or more is preferable) COVID-19 will likely persist for years to come. It will become a part of the fabric of our society much like the common cold or flu. Everyone has suffered with the common cold and many have had the flu. People who remain unvaccinated, for whatever reason, will eventually get COVID-19. This was discussed at last night's webinar. It is not fear-mongering, it is fact. I checked this out with my epidemiologist/ toxicologist husband. He did not hesitant to agree. It only makes sense that if COVID-19 continues to circulate for years to come, the unprotected will eventually get it, just as we pick up the common cold. It will be in the air we breathe. Unless you continue to wear a mask and stay six feet from everyone, those who are not immune, will get COVID.
For those who are vaccine hesitant, take your time, educate yourself with expert knowledge, not mis-information but take this into consideration. I would much rather use kindness and patience to convince the vaccine hesitant but we all need to understand the facts in order to make an informed decision about vaccination.
The Delta variant ( formerly known as the India variant) is now circulating in Ontario. It takes two doses of vaccine for a person to be protected against this variant. It is thought to be up to 60 % more transmissible than the Alpha variant ( formerly the UK variant) which is now the dominant strain in Ontario. There is a good chance that the Delta variant will become the dominant strain. Your best protection against these variants is two doses of vaccine. The province is moving rapidly towards the second dose phase. Yes, we will have a 2 dose summer. Once this phase begins, it will be more difficult to book an appointment for your first dose. Please register now.
Here is the link: https://register.wdgpublichealth.ca/
Everyone 12 and up can register. Our public health unit is about to start calling the 70 plus year old age group for a second dose. Keep an eye on your email. GWD needs 7,000 people to register for their first vaccine in order to reach a 75% first dose vaccination rate.
Second post will follow concerning mixing and matching vaccines and how to choose between a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine as your second dose or a dose of the mRNA vaccine as your second dose. NACI has approved mixing and matching!
I am posting last night's webinar again. All the information you are about to receive in these posts concerning mixing and matching and how to get that second dose is in this webinar. Thank you to Dr. Nicola Mercer who was our distinguished guest.
https://www.facebook.com/cmhaww/videos/498013551321145
Anne-Marie
Please share.
For local assistance with anxiety and depression:
www.here4help.ca
CMHA WW Website: www.cmhaww.ca
Here 24/7 at 1-844-HERE-247 or www.here247.ca.
And for post-secondary students, Good2Talk
https://good2talk.ca/
For non-Facebook users, you can find this post here:
https://braceletofhope.blogspot.com/
And if you'd like to help Bracelet of Hope work towards making sure that Lesotho has access to these vaccines, donate here:
https://www.braceletofhope.ca/ways-to-
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