Ontario 7th COVID wave expected to peak in 2 weeks, no masks mandatory at this time: Moore | Globalnews.ca

Ontario is in the middle of the seventh wave of COVID-19, The province’s top doctor says the peak is expected in the next two weeks.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday morning, Dr. Kieran Moore Confirmed that the province is in a seventh wave, but said the province is “experiencing a slower trajectory” this time.

Moore said the province has “the tools to manage” the seventh wave.

“As the virus continues to spread and evolve, we know what steps need to be taken to protect ourselves, our communities, and our health system,” he said. “The most important thing is to stay up to date with your vaccinations.”

Moore said “at this time” his team is not recommending any further public health measures, such as reinstating mandatory masking.

“My goal is to prevent any impact of COVID on the healthcare system,” Moore said.

Moore said the waves of the pandemic “are now coming on a 90-day basis.”

“Maybe these rippling waves will have an adverse effect on the health care system, and we have to be prepared for those going forward,” he said.

Moore said that or as of Wednesday, about 70 percent of the province’s intensive care unit (ICU) beds were being used.

“We have about 119 Ontarians in the intensive care unit today,” he said. “This will increase over the next two weeks, but it should not impede or affect the ability of any local hospitals to care for individuals.”

However, Moore said that if the healthcare system is at risk, his team will “make recommendations to the government on universal masking in many settings.”

“It’s a contingency plan for the fall,” he said. “It’s certainly not a contingency for the present.”

Moore also told reporters that the province would continue to provide free rapid antigen testing for COVID-19.

Moore said the tests will be available at grocery stores, pharmacies, some workplaces, schools, hospitals, retirement homes and long-term care facilities by the end of the year.

The province also announced on Wednesday that it would expand eligibility for a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to people 18 and older.

Now people in this age group can receive their second booster dose if it has been at least five months since their third dose, and at least three months since they recovered from a COVID-19 infection.