Canada’s Deputy Chief Public Health Officer, says recent COVID-19 trends in Canada, are cause for concern.
Dr. Howard Njoo says after a period of steady decline, daily COVID-19 case counts, have began to rise. He says nationally, an average of 350 cases have been reported per day over the last week, compared to an average daily case count of around 300 in early July. Njoo adds that on Thursday there were over 430 cases reported and this coincides with increasing reports of individuals contracting COVID-19 at parties, nightclubs and bars.
Njoo says there are increasing rates of transmission in young Canadians in some jurisdictions across the country. He adds although severe illness is not common in young Canadians, there have been several reports of young and active adults contracting severe illness. Dr. Njoo concluded, by saying, we are all in this together and have a shared responsibility to keep COVID-19 transmission low.
Long-Term Care Homes
To date more than 80% of COVID-19 deaths in Canada have occurred among residents of long term care homes.
That according to Dr. Njoo, who says the Public Health Agency of Canada has published new interim guidance, on care of residents, in long term care homes. He says the guidance will help providers, facility directors and administrators prepare, equip and inform their long-term care homes responses, regarding important aspects of long-term care.
Njoo says the guidance does not replace individual clinical judgement or specialist consultation, but is meant to provide a framework to strengthen care of long-term residents, in context with the pandemic. Dr. Njoo adds the guidance is to be used in conjunction with information from provincial and territorial authorities and will take into account any legislation from provincial and territorial governments.
