The summer of 2021 will be Oh so much better!
"The pandemic is likely to recede by the summer with the continued adherence to public health measures and the increased distribution of vaccines!"
Dr. Adalsteinn Brown
Co-Chair, Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table
Click on this link and take a look at the first graph.
COVID 19 cases are plummeting right now in Canada and around the world. In the past six weeks, the number of new coronavirus infections reported globally has dropped almost 50 %, from five million the first week of January to about 2.7 million last week.
Worldwide, overall daily case tallies are the lowest they’ve been since October, according to the World Health Organization.
Canada has seen new infections plunge from 57,519 in the week beginning Jan. 4 to 20,776 in the past week – a 64-per-cent drop. In Ontario, we have been hovering above 1,000 for the past week which is not too bad considering that the more infectious variant is here. There are over 1200 cases of infections caused by COVID-19 variants in the country with 550 in Ontario. That's a very slow increase.
Here's why the number of new cases are falling:
1/ Stronger public health measures and stricter adherence to the rules possibly because of the fear of these new variants.
2/ In countries with relatively high rates of vaccination and infection, such as the United States and Britain, immunity could also be starting to slow the spread.
3/From what we know about other caronaviruses, they tend to peak in winter and early spring. COVID- 19 did this last year. And, it may just be doing it this year which means, we could be past the winter peak and heading into a much better spring and summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, influenza usually rises in December, peaks in early- to mid-January and falls off by mid-February. And that’s what we may be seing with COVID-19.
And all this, just as the vaccines arrive by the millions.
Today was tough. March might be difficult for all of us. In two weeks we will reach the first anniversary of the day the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. That's a tough anniversary to swallow. March is not the greatest month weather wise; fog, grey skies and muddy melting snow. Take care of your mental health and reach out to people who may be in trouble.
More good news, and believe it or not, I had trouble deciding what good news to share; there is a growing body of evidence that says that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines not only reduce the risk of someone becoming infected with COVID by 93 % or more but that these vaccines also prevent a vaccinated person from spreading the disease.
"We are confident that vaccination against COVID-19 reduces the chances of transmitting the virus"
Kate Grabowski, John's Hopkin's epidemiologist.
And, the AstraZeneca vaccine is about to arrive in Canada with 500,000 doses arriving this week. This vaccine is not a mRNA vaccine, it is a viral -vector vaccine. More details about this in the coming week. It is based on technology that is tried and true. It is less effective than the mRNA vaccines ( 64 % effective as opposed to 93 % effective) but studies out of the UK show that the vaccine reduces the rate of death and serious illness by 94 %. Which means that those who get this vaccine may become infected but they will not develop a serious illness. That's important. We would not have given COVID 19 a second thought if all it caused was mild cold and cough symptoms.
When and where this vaccine will be used remains to be seen. BUT IS IT THE THIRD VACCINE THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR USE IN CANADA!!!
THE THIRD. This time last year, scientists were doubtful that we would have any effective vaccines within 2 years.
Well done!
Hang on tight folks. Let's get through March. And be of great cheer because by the end of it, we will feel such great optimism as our mass vaccination clinics open up.
Anne-Marie
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For mental health support here:
For local assistance with anxiety and depression:
CMHA WW Website: www.cmhaww.ca
Here 24/7 at 1-844-HERE-247 or www.here247.ca.
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