As the summer approaches and COVID-19 health measures continue to loosen, experts say the rise of subvariants of Omicron could lead to another spike in cases in Canada.
The subvariants of BA.4 and BA.5 have been fuelling growing case counts in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere around the world. In Canada, the two variants made up 3.9 per cent and 6.5 per cent of COVID-19 cases, respectively, according to samples collected the week of May 29. Cases of BA.2.12.1, another growing subvariant, also represent 40.5 per cent of cases.
At a media briefing on Friday, Canada’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Theresa Tam noted the growth of these subvariants, saying that they have “demonstrated a growth advantage in additional immune escape” over previous variants, citing waning vaccine immunity and viral evolution.
“We do not expect our progress to be linear, therefore maintaining readiness for a potential resurgence that could result in severe impact is our best advantage,” Tam told reporters.
Toronto-based emergency room physician Dr. Kashif Pirzada says the rise of these subvariants shows how quickly the virus can mutate.
“It’s evolving to beat our immunity and our vaccine and it looks like we’re going to be in a world where we have waves every two to three months,” he told CTV News Channel on Saturday. “The crazy thing is that immunity from previous infection, even if you got Omicron in the January wave or in the last month — it may not protect you from this variant because it’s different enough that your immunity won’t be strong enough for it.”
In Portugal, where the BA.5 variant made up 87 per cent of cases as of May 30, hospitalizations increased as a result. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that BA.4 and BA.5 now make up 8.3 per cent and 13.3 per cent of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., respectively.
“If you look at countries like Portugal, which got the BA.5 variant … that’s one of the highest vaccination rates in the world and you’re seeing a spike in hospitalizations there. So, that could be a warning for us,” said Pirzada. “Hopefully, summer weather here and schools being let out now will keep us from going that badly, but it means that we have to be cautious.”
Dr. Zain Chagla, an associate professor at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., and infectious diseases physician at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, says it’s still unclear what will happen in Canada.
Portugal, for example, has seen a large wave of BA.4 and BA.5 cases, but had a relatively small number of BA.2 cases, similar to South Africa, he said in an email to CTVNews.ca on Sunday.
But Portugal is also seeing a “decent percentage” of reinfections, with elderly individuals appearing to be the most likely to get sick, he says.
Having taken about six weeks to peak in Portugal, Chagla says another wave of Omicron cases could hit Canada over the next few weeks, with indoor, high-capacity and poorly ventilated spaces presenting a greater risk of COVID-19 transmission.
“At this point people should engage with what [they] feel comfortable, but recognizing as community rates rise so does exposure in these settings,” Chagla said. “Masking with a well-fitted mask … adds protection in some of these settings.”
He recommends that those who are at high risk of contracting COVID-19 be up-to-date with their vaccinations, including third and fourth doses. Canadians should also know where and how to get tested if symptoms develop, as well as how to get access to treatments, which are both widely available in Canada and can reduce the risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization.
Currently, Canada is seeing low rates of cases and hospitalizations and Tam said the Public Health Agency of Canada is feeling “cautiously optimistic about the current trajectory.”
“If you compare where we’re at now, versus where we were, you know, a month and two months ago, we’re doing so much better,” infectious diseases specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch told CTV News on Friday.
However, Bogoch believes there may be a “summer bump in cases, depending on how this plays out,” citing wastewater data in Ontario showing a recent uptick in SARS-CoV-2 concentrations.
“It’s showing a slight bump in in the signal, and I don’t think it’s just a flicker,” he said. “I think it’s the real deal because if you look at the various areas of Ontario and this is not geographically unique to one area. You’re seeing that signal in multiple geographic regions.”
With files from CTV National News Toronto Correspondent John Vennavally-Rao
Wastewater data in Ontario is showing a recent uptick in SARS-CoV-2 concentrations since the start of June. (Ontario Science Table)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers placed All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve because of his lingering calf and Achilles tendon injuries.
The move made Saturday means McCaffrey will miss at least four more games after already sitting out the season opener. He is eligible to return for a Thursday night game in Seattle on Oct. 10.
McCaffrey got hurt early in training camp and missed four weeks of practice before returning to the field on a limited basis last week. He was a late scratch for the opener on Monday night against the Jets and now is sidelined again after experiencing pain following practice on Thursday.
McCaffrey led the NFL last season with 2,023 yards from scrimmage and was tied for the league lead with 21 touchdowns, winning AP Offensive Player of the Year.
The Niners made up for McCaffrey’s absence thanks to a strong performance from backup Jordan Mason, who had 28 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown in San Francisco’s 32-19 victory over the New York Jets. Mason is set to start again Sunday at Minnesota.
After missing 23 games because of injuries in his final two full seasons with Carolina, McCaffrey had been healthy the past two seasons.
He missed only one game combined in 2022-23 — a meaningless Week 18 game last season for San Francisco when he had a sore calf. His 798 combined touches from scrimmage in the regular season and playoffs were the third most for any player in a two-year span in the past 10 years.
Now San Francisco will likely rely heavily on Mason, a former undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech who had 83 carries his first two seasons. He had at least 10 touches just twice before the season opener, when his 28 carries were the most by a 49ers player in a regular-season game since Frank Gore had 31 against Seattle on Oct. 30, 2011.
The Niners also have fourth-round rookie Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor Jr. on the active roster. Guerendo played three offensive snaps with no touches in the opener. Taylor had 65 carries for Green Bay from 2021-23.
San Francisco also elevated safety Tracy Walker III from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against Minnesota.
BRUSSELS – Canada walked away with some hardware at the Diamond League track and field competition Saturday.
Alysha Newman finished third in women’s pole vault, while Marco Arop did the same in the men’s 800-metre race.
Newman won a bronze medal in her event at the recent Paris Olympics. Arop grabbed silver at the same distance in France last month.
Australia’s Nina Kennedy, who captured gold at the Summer Games, again finished atop the podium. Sandi Morris of the United States was second.
Newman set a national record when she secured Canada’s first-ever pole vault medal with a bronze at the Olympics with a height of 4.85 metres. The 30-year-old from London, Ont., cleared 4.80 metres in her second attempt Saturday, but was unable conquer 4.88 metres on three attempts.
Arop, a 25-year-old from Edmonton, finished the men’s 800 metres with a time of one minute 43.25 seconds. Olympic gold medallist Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya was first with a time of 1:42.70.
Djamel Sedjati, edged out by Arop for silver in Paris last month, was second 1:42.87
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2024.
MILAN (AP) — Bologna’s preparations for its Champions League debut are not going well though it managed to spoil Como’s first Serie A home match in 21 years on Saturday.
Bologna came from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw to gather three points from its opening four matches.
Bologna hosts Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. Its only other appearance in Europe’s top competition was in 1964 in the preliminary round of the old European Cup.
AC Milan is also winless as it prepares for a Tuesday Champions League match against Liverpool. The Rossoneri hosted promoted Venezia later. Juventus drew at Empoli 0-0.
Como made a great start in the fifth minute when Patrick Cutrone attempted to roll the ball across the six-yard box but it took a huge deflection off Bologna defender Nicolò Casale for an own goal.
Bologna thought it was gifted a way back into the match on the stroke of halftime when referee Marco Piccinini signalled for a penalty following an Alberto Moreno handball, but he revoked his decision and instead gave a free kick because the handball was just outside the area.
Bologna improved after the break but found itself further behind when Cutrone raced onto a through ball and cut inside past a defender and fired into the far bottom corner.
Tommaso Pobega hit the post for Bologna, which finally pulled one back in the 76th through substitute Santiago Castro.
Another substitute helped the visitors snatch a point when Samuel Iling-Junior curled a fine strike into the top left corner in stoppage time.
Unbeaten sides
Juventus, and more surprisingly Empoli, are among six unbeaten sides.
Empoli held Monza and Bologna to draws either side of a shock 2-1 win at Roma. Juventus’ perfect start to the season was ruined by Roma in a goalless draw before the international break.
On Saturday, there were few clearcut chances in Empoli although home goalkeeper Devis Vásquez made spectacular saves to fingertip out a Federico Gatti header and deny Dusan Vlahovic in a one on one with the Juventus forward.
Empoli had a good opportunity in the 73rd minute following an Alberto Grassi one-two with Pietro Pellegri but the finish was straight at Mattia Perin.
The host could have won it right at the death but Gatti flew in with a great sliding block to keep out Emanuel Gyasi’s close-range effort.
Juventus hosts PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday.
