York Region Public Health said wastewater signals indicate COVID-19 cases could be plateauing in the province, but rising hospitalization is still an issue.
Medical officer of health Dr. Barry Pakes said April 25 that local and provincial wastewater signals are plateauing, “albeit at a very high level of transmission.” However, the latest April 22 update shows York’s signal is still rising, now at approximately 70 per cent of the January peak.
Pakes said vaccination is helping, but hospitalization trends are also a concern.
“High levels of vaccination with third or fourth doses are largely protecting these vulnerable individuals and all others, including those who care for them, from severe illness,” he said. "Hospitalizations in York Region, as well as in Ontario more broadly, continue to rise. Of course, this is concerning and has impacts on the capacity and care we all may need to access.”
York is at 77 hospitalizations as of April 22. Before April 19, hospitalizations had not eclipsed 70 in the region since Feb 7.
Pakes said absences in school settings among staff and students are a continued concern. He repeated a “strong recommendation” for everyone in schools to mask — as well as all those in indoor settings — until the sixth pandemic wave is over.
“Masks are the best defence we have against the spread of COVID-19,” Pakes said.
He said warmer weather should help the situation by enabling more gatherings outdoors. But he added with allergy season starting, it may be hard to distinguish whether a symptom is COVID-19 or something else. He noted the Ontario science table recommendations to isolate if you get symptoms, until you test negative on two rapid antigen tests separated by at least 24 hours.
Pakes said the region has administered more than 40,000 fourth vaccination doses, which are now open to all those 60 and older.
“This is great news that we’re seeing such interest in the fourth dose rollout,” Pakes said. “I encourage everyone to book an appointment to visit a clinic as soon as possible, if you’re due for a vaccine or a booster.”
