The Chief Public Health Officer of Canada says the country is at the start of a Delta-driven fourth wave of COVID-19.

Theresa Tam says there have been 1,430,483 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic and 26,592 deaths. Four variants of concern have been identified in the country and the Delta variant accounts for the majority of reported VOC cases, nationally.

Dr. Tam says the trajectory of a fourth wave will depend on ongoing increase in fully vaccinated coverage and the timing, place and extent of re-opening. Health officials also expect cases to concentrate largely in younger, unvaccinated people. Children under 12 are not eligible for vaccination. However, according to Tam, further spread could move to older unvaccinated populations.

Dr. Tam says this continues to mean taking a cautious approach to relaxing public health measures as well as increasing first and second dose vaccination coverage. She says that reducing the impact of a stronger resurgence this fall and winter would be aided by increasing fully vaccinated coverage above 80 per cent.