For the first time in two years, Canadians celebrating Easter and Easter face several public health restrictions that limit their ability to reunite with family and friends.
But experts are urging Canadians to be careful and do everything they can to limit the spread of COVID-19.
According to Dr. Peter Juni, withdrawing scientific director of the Scientific Advisory Table for COVID-19 in Ontario, this means using more than one rapid antigen test (RAT).
“Don’t trust quick tests,” he told CTV News Channel on Sunday. “It simply came to our notice then [Omicron] BA.2. If negative once, [that’s] not enough. “
According to a scientific report published by the Ontario Science Table in February, RATs are thought to be less sensitive to the Omicron variant, especially compared to their ability to detect the Delta variant. In addition, little remains known about how these tests perform when exposed to sub-option BA.2, Juni said. As a result, he advised Canadians to perform two rapid tests to confirm whether or not they were infected with COVID-19 before meeting with family and friends.
“Just one test – forget it, it’s not enough,” said Juni. “[Take] at least two rapid tests with an interval of at least 24 hours without any symptoms. “
Anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 is advised not to associate with other people and should isolate themselves instead, he said. Common symptoms include sore throat, runny nose, new or worsening cough and tiredness.
In addition to rapid testing, Juni said those who can take their celebrations outdoors should do so in an effort to seek better air circulation. Those who gather indoors are advised to limit attendance, avoid crowds and provide adequate ventilation.
The Omicron BA.2 sub-variant has recently appeared in Canada and other countries around the world. Although evidence suggests that the Omicron BA.2 sub-variant is more transmissible than its predecessor, Omicron BA.1, does not appear to cause more severe disease.
Initially, Omicron BA.2 appears to be spreading relatively slowly in Canada. However, provinces such as Manitoba and Ontario have already announced that the Omicron BA.2 sub-variant is the most dominant strain circulating among communities.
This comes as the number of COVID-19 cases rises again in Canada, based on data collected by CTVNews.ca. Those who have recently been infected with the virus or received the recommended doses of the vaccine are expected to have good protection against transmitting COVID-19 to others, Juni said. Those who have not been infected or have not had their vaccines should take extra precautions, he said.
“A lot of people have protection through vaccination and recent [exposure] now with BA.2, this new sub-option, “said Juni. “For all of us who haven’t been infected relatively recently, we just have to be really careful not to pass it on and not get sick ourselves.”
In Ontario, about five percent of the population is currently infected with COVID-19, according to data from a scientific table.
“When you go somewhere and communicate, it’s relatively certain, if the group is a little bigger, that there is at least one person who is currently infected.
As a result, these recommendations go beyond the holiday weekend, Juni said. He advises you to continue using good quality masks like KF94, KN95 or N95s. If none of them are available, Juni suggests putting a medical mask under a cloth mask for a snug fit.
“It’s going to help, and we just have to do it for a few more weeks,” Juni said. “When we see now that we have reached the ridge, if we are all a little careful, it will help.”
With files from The Canadian Press and Catherine Declerck from CTV and Brooklyn Neustatter.
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