Calling it the “plausible safe lifting scenario” Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer says it may be possible to see an easing of pandemic restrictions by this summer. But the scenario in which that would need to occur successfully involves at least 75 per cent of adults aged 18 and older with the first dose of vaccine and 20 per cent with the second dose. Dr. Theresa Tam also says gradually easing restrictive measures must be done hand-in-hand with the capacity to adequately test, trace and isolate as well as maintaining personal precautions.

Federal health officials say right now the average stay for those hospitalized with COVID-19 is two weeks, or three weeks for those with more severe illness. The steepest rise in the average number of cases hospitalized for severe COVID-19 related illness is being seen in adults aged 40 to 59 years of age.

Dr. Tam says this is a reminder that although severe illness is less common in younger age groups serious or prolonged illness can occur at any age. As well there are emerging concerns about the increased severity of the B117 variant, or the U.K. variant, in adults.