Canada failing to stop COVID-19 spread as world cases drop. Why?

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While the global number of new COVID-19 cases and deaths dropped, since the end of March 2022, Canada has seen the opposite happening as cases rose and hospitalizations roughly doubled in the same period, as indicated in the following graph.

In one month, COVID-19 hospitalizations in Canada have increased 3,033 beds. In one month, COVID-19 hospitalizations in Canada have increased 3,033 beds. Source: Civil Society Partners against COVID-19

 

“Quebec and Ontario provinces in Canada are both doing an excellent job of data reporting but have little to work with in the way of test results. Both provinces have seen an alarming rise in hospitalizations which is the most profound indicator of COVID-19 community spread,” says infectious disease researcher Dr. Kathy Poon in Singapore.

“The COVID-19 case and death count numbers are almost meaningless in Canada because insufficient testing and genomic monitoring is being done.  There are nearly 7,000 persons in Canadian hospitals needing treatment for COVID-19 and a certain percentage of those persons will die according to historical statistical data compiled for the Omicron variant and its subvariants—and one death is too many,” explained Dr. Fred Harris, team lead of the Civil Society Partners against COVID-19 infectious disease tracking team in Singapore.

“We all need to fight to save every life we can by masking-up and getting vaccinated to the current standards,” said Dr. Harris during a brief interview for the new data and this report.

“Wearing an N-95 mask or equivalent standard is indicated by massive amounts of globally collected data, hence the Canadian Ministry of Health is completely wrong in its political position and alleged assessment of respirators not being indicated. If they were not indicated medical practitioners in hospitals would be bare faced and eventually dead or deathly ill. That simple. Moreover, exposure to the airborne spread of Omicron can only be averted by small particle filtering face pieces. Luck does not figure into this equation,” said the seasoned biostatisticians.

According to the CDC, well-fitting N95s are the most protective, followed by KN95s. The use of respirators (N95/KN95) is recommended to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 according to the US Centers for Disease Control. CDC findings are consistent with existing research demonstrating that respirators effectively filter viruses in laboratory settings and with ecological studies showing reductions in SARS-CoV-2 incidence associated with community-level masking requirements. While this study evaluated the protective effects of mask or respirator use in reducing the risk the wearer acquires SARS-CoV-2 infection, a previous evaluation estimated the additional benefits of masking for source control, and found that wearing face masks or respirators in the context of exposure to a person with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with similar reductions in risk for infection. Strengths of the current study include use of a clinical endpoint of SARS-CoV-2 test result, and applicability to a general population sample.

Hospitalization data shows an alarming climb nearing the 7,000 mark with regional fluctuations. “This crisis is not over,” warn experts.

All time hospitalizations for COVID-19. Source: Civil Society Partners against COVID-19

Canada is not doing very well under this political N95 SNAFU but Canadian-Made N95s are among the best and most reliable in the world.

How many of the total estimated Canadian deaths due to COVID-19 could have been prevented with the wearing of N-95 masks?

See The Lancet estimate of excess mortality from COVID-19 (Download PDF) in 191 countries/territories and 252 subnational units of select countries, from 1 January 2 0 2 0, to 31 December 2 0 2 1.

Is the CSPaC estimated number of Canadian COVID-19 deaths based on a modified universal algorithm which factors more sophisticated public health infrastructure and also fewer available urgent care beds and facilities which is a problem in much of Canada in an emergency measures context.

“This pandemic is not over,” but when we see three months of little change in case counts and deaths, we can talk about that,” said Dr. Harris.

“If you can still breathe, don’t come here,” one elderly Montreal male was told. The patient has at least three comorbid underlying chronic illnesses but when he explained his symptoms (difficulty breathing, coughing, excessive weakness, general malaise, abdominal agony), he was told to “stay home and drink fluids, we have no beds,” say exasperated workers.

Be Kind Always

Let’s face it. We’re all tired of this pandemic. For many of us it has been the most confusing, anxiety-provoking time of our lives. It sometimes leaves us short tempered and frustrated. Public health staff, however, should not be on the receiving end of your anger.

Cumulative Case counts in Canada are in a steady climb.

Canada COVID-19 Cumulative Case Sums continue to climb steadily. Source: Civil Society Partners against COVID-19

13 Dec 2024 COVID-19 Data for Canada from CSPaC