[GTranslate]TORONTO – Soaring cases, more contagiousness of new variants, increased hospitalizations and patients admitted in the intensive care units. The data present in the report prepared by the experts of the COVID-19 Science Advisory Table are alarming: numbers, those analyzed by the Ontario scientific control room, which highlights how this third wave of the pandemic can be much heavier than the first and second.

As had been widely predicted by Canadian virologists as early as last December, the English variant (B 117) has become the predominant strain of Covid in our country. The main problem is that this variant is more aggressive and contagious than the original strain and this would explain the increase in hospitalizations. With the English variant, according to numerous studies that have been done internationally, the risk of hospitalization increases by 63%, the chance of ending up in intensive care increases by 103% and that of losing life by 56%.

At the same time, this strain proved particularly aggressive even for younger people. Covid-19 had originally proved extremely risky for older people with previous illnesses. The English variant is now a real threat to the younger age groups. And the numbers confirm that. In mid-December, between the 14th and the 20th we still read in the report of the provincial COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, 149 people ended up in intensive care in Ontario due to Covid-19 and of these only 30 percent were under 59 years of age.

Last week – the report continues – the same age group accounted for 46% of the 157 hospitalized in resuscitation. A worrying jump because it raises the alarm.

All the indicators analyzed so far confirm how the pandemic is at a growth stage in Ontario. Compared to the second wave, hospital admissions increased by 21%, those in intensive care by 28%, with an ever higher rate of contagion.

In a short time, the records that had been recorded in December were reached and surpassed. The proportion of 286 admitted to intensive care on 26 December was reached on 9 March, that of hospitalizations on 16 March.

Faced with this scenario, it puzzles the provincial government’s willingness to move forward with the plan to progressively loosen restrictions and the change in protocols and guidelines in grey regions. The executive approach led by Premier Doug Ford has already been denounced by the provincial nursing association in recent days, while yesterday Anthony Dale, president of the Ontario Hospital Association, spoke. “The trend of new patients being admitted to Ontario hospitals is set to grow and this will test the capacity of the entire healthcare system.”

Without forgetting – he added – that Covid hospitalizations cause delays and cancellations for surgical operations that must be performed in all hospitals in the province. In short, the Covid emergency is far from over.

Finally, on the vaccine front, there are encouraging news. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced yesterday that Pfizer will increase supplies to Canada and send 5 million doses to our country by June and not by the end of the summer, as had previously been planned. AstraZeneca will also increase the volume of deliveries, with 4.4 million doses coming by the end of June.