News briefing taking place.
Dr. Marcia Anderson with the First Nations pandemic response team says BIPOC are under-represented among people with three #COVID19 vaccine doses but over-represented so far for pediatric doses.
Dr. Marcia Anderson with the First Nations pandemic response team says BIPOC are under-represented among people with three #COVID19 vaccine doses but over-represented so far for pediatric doses.
Anderson says risk of breakthrough infections is higher among BIPOC communities.
Anderson says unlike earlier in the pandemic, Black, Indigenous and people of colour did not get COVID in disproportionate numbers in the fall of 2021.
Thanks to high vaccine uptake, the infection burden shifted to people who identify as white.
Thanks to high vaccine uptake, the infection burden shifted to people who identify as white.
Dr. Joss Reimer with the vaccine team now speaking.
She repeats NACI recommendation youths aged 12-17 should get three vax doses if they are at higher risk of severe outcomes.
She repeats NACI recommendation youths aged 12-17 should get three vax doses if they are at higher risk of severe outcomes.
Recommended interval is six months between doses.
Reimer notes MB is not recommending boosters for most 12-17 year olds.
She says most teens have a very low risk of serious outcomes if they do contract Omicron.
She says most teens have a very low risk of serious outcomes if they do contract Omicron.
Reimer says vax team will be focusing on getting third doses to BIPOC communities.
Dr. David Matear from the COVID response team now speaking.
Now 702 #COVID19 patients in hospital today, down 5 patients from Friday.
Now 702 #COVID19 patients in hospital today, down 5 patients from Friday.
109 total patients in ICU, up one from Friday.
47 are COVID patients, down 5 from Friday.
Says 90% of COVID patients in ICU have Omicron.
47 are COVID patients, down 5 from Friday.
Says 90% of COVID patients in ICU have Omicron.
Matear says even though the COVID hospital patient burden is not rising, hospitals are still not operating anywhere near normal.
Matear says last week 65% of COVID patients surveyed received care for COVID.
Remaining 35% received care for non-COVID illnesses.
Three weeks ago, it was an 80-20 split, he says. Shift is due to Omicron, he says.
Remaining 35% received care for non-COVID illnesses.
Three weeks ago, it was an 80-20 split, he says. Shift is due to Omicron, he says.
That's mostly critical care. Ratio shifts further for less critical patients, he says.
Matear says ~250 staff redeployed to ICU and ~175 to personal care homes.
Matear says ICU cap is now up to 124 patients.
Medicine capacity is 1,574 beds, with 160 available.
[Cost of this expansion is diminished surgeries and diagnostic procedures, of course.]
Medicine capacity is 1,574 beds, with 160 available.
[Cost of this expansion is diminished surgeries and diagnostic procedures, of course.]
Matear asked about pushback from doctors who say the analysis of COVID patients getting respiratory treatment vs COVID patients getting other treatments is flawed, given that COVID is a systemic illness that can exacerbate other conditions.
He says the analysis is just 1 tool.
He says the analysis is just 1 tool.
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