Toronto 
Public Health Agency of Canada has released the latest epidemiology and modelling data which forecasts a rapidly accelerating Omicron case surge for Canada.
The data which is based on the limited COVID-19 testing across almost all provinces suggest that Canada is yet to see the peak in infections and hospitalizations.
Credit: Public Health Agency of Canada
Credit: Public Health Agency of Canada
The feds say Omicron is driving up severe illness trends despite being less severe than Delta. While adults aged 20-39 years reported the highest number of infections, the hospitalization rate due to Omicron is increasing across all age groups, with the highest rates among older adults, particularly seniors over 80 years of age.
The modelling suggests that daily hospitalizations could peak at around 5,000 a day if the hospitalization rate is the same as the Delta variant.
Credit: Public Health Agency of Canada
Credit: Public Health Agency of Canada
The officials have also released modelling for daily hospital admissions and cases in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. Daily hospitalization rates are expected to peak at approximately 300 for Alberta, 150 for British Columbia and Manitoba, 900 for Ontario, 500 for Quebec and 80 for Saskatchewan.
The modelling assumes that the Omicron variant is 3 times more transmissible than Delta, vaccine effectiveness decreases 50% with respect to Delta and booster doses increase effectiveness against infection to 70%.
The complete details on Canada’s latest modelling are given here.
