Thread by @jeffgilchrist

Virus update for Ottawa, ON, Canada (Sep 30, 2023)

#Viral indicators continue to increase for #Ottawa, #Canada ( ). #Wastewater levels in Ottawa have almost reached the same as the peak of the first #Omicron BA.1 wave. 🧵1/ covid.gilchrist.ca/Ottawa.html

Unfortunately that means increases in hospitalization as well. Ottawa has seen significantly elevated levels of hospitalization *for* COVID-19 for the past 2 months now. Remember, this virus is not seasonal, it transmits easily all year long. 2/

Our youngest children (age < 4) are especially vulnerable to respiratory infections. There were 304 respiratory related Emergency Department visits the week of Sep. 17th (49% of ED visits in that age group) and the season is just starting ( ). 3/ottawapublichealth.ca/en/reports-res…

Which respiratory viruses are already circulating wildly? Since the symptoms are often very similar or the same, many people think they have a "cold" but will often have COVID-19. 4/

Right now in Ontario is almost an equal percent test positivity for COVID-19 and Entero/Rhinovirus while very little of anything else yet ( ). 5/ publichealthontario.ca/en/Data-and-An…

In Ottawa you can get free COVID-19 rapid tests (RATs) from Ottawa Public Health at libraries and community centres ( ). 6/

https://twitter.com/C19TestFinders/status/1704606017089114321

Now that most people have been vaccinated or infected, the immune system can start developing symptoms faster after infection. 7/

A recent study found that half of people's COVID-19 viral loads peaked on day 4 of symptoms so may not test positive on a rapid test in the first few days ( ). 8/

https://twitter.com/jeffgilchrist/status/1707445323008704975

If you test as soon as your symptoms start and the result is negative, don't assume you are COVID-19 free, you will need to test for several more days to be more certain. 9/

You can find out a lot more details about how rapid tests still work after all the mutations from @Wikisteff here ( ). 10/mstdn.science/@Wikisteff@mas…

Which variants are circulating now? The EG.5.* "Eris" family makes up 46% of the sequenced PCR tests while the next closest is XBB.1.16* "Arcturus" at 19% and several others under 10% including XBB.1.5.* "Kraken" that the fall vaccine boosters were based on. 11/

To learn how to see what variants are circulating in your area, please read this guide ( ). 12/

https://twitter.com/jeffgilchrist/status/1647232148397498368

There is still no concrete timeline on when the updated vaccine boosters will be available in Ontario, while the virus continues to mutate as it infects and spreads readily, all year round. 13/

Imagine if Public Health and governments focused on something other than a vaccine-only policy, one that could reduce the chance of getting infected with COVID-19, Flu, and other respiratory viruses all at the same time... 14/

... regardless of their mutations and doesn't wane over time or need boosters ( ). 15/

https://twitter.com/jeffgilchrist/status/1700855498138902697

Having better clean air standards would also protect people and our children from pollution like wildfire smoke, reduce days people are away from school and work due to illness ( ), and also provide an environment for higher test scores. 16/

https://twitter.com/dgurdasani1/status/1701226385258254604

We already have standards for clean water in public buildings and schools, it is far past time to start using updated air quality standards as well. 17/

Considering we breathe thousands of times more air every day than we drink water and therefore exposed to massively more pollutants, toxins, and pathogens via air, we should be investing much more in clean air ( ). 18/

https://twitter.com/kprather88/status/1537948318382247937

@threadreaderapp please unroll