Looking at the composite chart, the seasonal surge appears to be continuing. Canada-wide, municipal wastewater viral counts are up roughly 40% since the end of November but still only half of last year at this time. Ontario statistics on PCR testing of the minority of our population still eligible for those tests (mainly symptomatic seniors and health care workers) appear to be continuing a moderate rise but the reality is likely worse due to a lot of Ontarians who received PCR tests due to flu-like symptoms actually suffering from unusually-prevalent flues, thereby depressing the statistical COVID prevalence rate. Currently, COVID hospitalizations and ICU bed occupancy rates more accurately reflect the incidence of new COVID infections. Those rates are still rising, having more than doubled since late November while remaining less than half of the comparable rates of a year ago.
Unfortunately, that’s all that I can report this week. The more independent statisticians at COVID-19 Resources Canada have not reported over the past month. Likewise, Public Heath Canada’s biweekly report on changes with respect to which COVID variants are currently on the rise. Better answers on the actual current COVID infection rates will have to wait for another week.