Ontario reports highest number of COVID-19 deaths since spring

Ontario has reported the highest number of deaths from COVID-19 this week since May. Data from the ministry of health shows that 109 people have died from the virus in the past seven days, which is up from 67 the week before.

Epidemiologist Timothy Sly says he’s concerned that people are getting too comfortable and we should be more cautious heading into winter.

“We have fewer people wearing protection they think somehow that it’s over and it’s certainly not over,” Sly said.

Dr. Brendan Lew from Hamilton public health recommends getting our booster shots and wearing masks in crowded areas, “COVID-19 continues to be a threat to our health and our healthcare system.”

Dr. Zain Chagla says the spike in the number of deaths could be from more activity in the community.

Dr. Chagla also spoke about the new COVID-19 treatment that’s been approved by Health Canada. He says Evusheld, which is a muscular injection is already being used to prevent people from getting COVID-19, and now it can also be used to stop high-risk people from getting sicker when they test positive.

“The studies suggest 50 per cent reduction in hospitalization in people who get it early within the first seven days of their symptoms. It gives more options right we do have drugs like Paxlovid which is antiviral, Remdesivir which is antiviral,” Dr. Chagla said.

Dr. Chagal says Evusheld is effective against all of the omricron variants and is still being tested whether it would be effective against emerging variants.