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As COVID-19 infections again increase in the region, Niagara’s top public health doctor will share his insight into the future of the virus during an online forum Wednesday.
Acting medical officer of health Dr. Mustafa Hirji will discuss “COVID-19 and its Variants: Where we are now and could be in the years ahead?” during a public forum being hosted by Niagara District Council of Women at 7:30 p.m.
The virus, which has become the third leading cause of death in Canada behind cancer and heart disease, is now leading to increasing infections during the fall wave, with 837 known active cases reported by Niagara Region Public Health as of Friday.
Niagara Health hospitals are seeing an increased number of patients with the virus, with 60 reported Friday including 25 being treated primarily for the virus.
Another Niagara COVID-19 death, Thursday, was reported by the hospital system.
Outbreaks are increasing as well, with 17 at Niagara health-care facilities reported by public health Friday.
The virus has now claimed the lives of 610 Niagara residents since the pandemic began.
Hirji was quoted in a media release from the women’s council promoting the upcoming forum: “COVID-19 has settled in as Canada’s new third leading cause of death. Our society is now less healthy, less equal, less prosperous, and with a health system that is less sustainable than before the epidemic.
“However, there is a path for our society to do what it has done with past epidemic infections and adapt to become less susceptible to COVID-19, and in the process become healthier, more equal and more prosperous,” he said.
People wanting to participate in the forum are asked to email [email protected] to register.
