Two weeks after Omicron forced Ontarians to again desert city streets with indoor dining closed and in store shopping capped, premier Doug Ford is now eyeing plans to reopen.
He stressed on Thursday that Ontario government can be confident that the worst is behind us.
At the end of the month, restaurants, bars and gyms will welcome back crowds at half capacity.
An Ontarian said: “It is about time, we should open everything.”
With restrictions gradually easing till mid March.
Southlake Regional Health Care Dr. Barry Nathanson said: “I do worry, as do many of my colleagues, that it is a bit early.”
The Omicron wave hit central Canada’s hospitals hardest and earliest.
In Ontario and Quebec, admissions have for now stopped rising, but thousands of patients still need care.
Premier of Quebec said: “I understand that we are all tired, but lives are at stake.”
The peak seen here could be more than two weeks away.
Infections disease physician Dr. Alex Wong said: “They have explicit, completely accurate world class modeling that tells them crystal clear that measures need to be put in place. Otherwise, this is gonna be horrible.”
New modeling puts Saskatchewan on track to nearly double its record for hospitalizations by mid February.
While in alberta, the premier says infections may have finally peaked, but they can reasonably expect to see 1500 or more Covid patients in non ICU beds when they reach the hospitalization peak.
The province laying out plans to delay surgeries and move recovering patients to temporary Covid wards.
Emergency room physician Dr. Aisha Mirza said: “That level of stress on the health care system. It is just asking for trouble.”
Hospitalizations in Ontario rose fast. The hope is the fall just as quickly. Other provinces will be watching closely for any signs of how and when this wave finally breaks.
Resource: CBC News