Ont. reports 1,009 new COVID-19 infections; highest 7-day rolling average of new cases in 6 months
Ontario reported more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases and eight more virus-related deaths on Wednesday as the seven-day rolling average of new infections hit a high not seen for the past six months.
Provincial health officials logged 1,009 new coronavirus infections today, up from 928 yesterday and from 780 a week ago.
Sure looks like the emergency is forever temporary
Omicron COVID-19 variant reported in 57 countries, hospitalizations likely to rise as it spreads: WHO
The Omicron variant has been reported in 57 nations and the number of patients needing hospitalization is likely to rise as it spreads, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.
The WHO, in its weekly epidemiological report, said more data was needed to assess the severity of disease caused by the Omicron variant and whether its mutations might reduce protection from vaccine-derived immunity.
Booster dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine neutralizes Omicron variant, company says
BioNTech and Pfizer said on Wednesday a three-shot course of their COVID-19 vaccine was able to neutralize the new Omicron variant in a laboratory test and they could deliver an Omicron-based vaccine in March 2022 if needed.
In the first official statement from vaccine manufacturers on the likely efficacy of their shot against Omicron, BioNTech and Pfizer said that two vaccine doses resulted in significantly lower neutralizing antibodies but that a third dose of their vaccine increased the neutralizing antibodies by a factor of 25.
Will COVID-19 boosters be required to be considered ‘fully vaccinated’? Expert weighs in
… Researchers have found that the immunity from two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine wanes over time, meaning Canadians will require another dose to “boost” their immunity to the virus.
Asked whether the public will need booster shots every six months for the foreseeable future, Muhajarine said “I would think so.”
Ontario extends pause on reopening plan indefinitely as COVID-19 situation worsens
