This has been the off-week in the bi-weekly reporting cycle of many of our sources of official pandemic data. What we have seen is a continuation of the ongoing transition from the seasonal COVID lows to the usual inexorable fall rise in new infections, albeit at a lower level than previous years at this time.
Turning to our composite chart, the slightly jagged Canada-wide municipal wastewater COVID PCR testing curve which shows a continuing but comparatively-moderate rise in circulating COVID virus counts. That is consistent with the rise in Ontario PCR test results which have been generally climbing since their June low and, over the three most recent weeks, have risen from less than one percent to 1.6% and then 2.3%. Ontario COVID hospitalizations and ICU bed occupancy rates are as usually that rise but show a moderate upward trend.
Public Health Canada’s next update on currently-circulating COVID variants will be available next week. I’m looking forward to seeing how rapidly the new recombinant RF family has spread.