Rapid spread of Omicron shedding light on social inequities in Canada: experts
Global News
While Omicron is thought to cause less severe disease in some people, experts say characterizing the COVID-19 variant as "mild" can be problematic.
As parts of Canada see staggering rises in COVID-19 activity amid Omicron’s rapid spread, experts say the highly transmissible variant is training a spotlight on social inequities across the country.
Dr. Amit Arya, a palliative care physician in Mississauga, Ont., says Omicron’s rise continues to show “a tale of two pandemics _ rich and poor,” with those who can afford to better protect themselves versus those who can’t.
Dr. Andrew Boozary, who leads the Social Medicine Program at Toronto’s University Health Network, says that while many essential workers have had two doses of a vaccine, third-dose uptake has been slower among lower-income populations.
Health experts recommend booster shots to increase protection, especially against severe disease and death, both of which appear to be on the rise in parts of Canada.
Ontario reported 2,594 patients in hospital with COVID-19 on Saturday, including 385 in intensive care, while Quebec reported 44 deaths attributed to the virus, its highest daily death toll in nearly a year.
Figures released Saturday in Atlantic Canada, meanwhile, show continued growth in COVID-19 cases there, with hospitals around the region reporting they are nearing or over capacity.
The number of people in New Brunswick hospitals rose from 69 to 80, with 17 of those in intensive care and 11 on ventilators.
While Omicron is thought to cause less severe disease in some people, experts say characterizing the variant as “mild” can be problematic.
