Raywat Deonandan, an epidemiologist and associate professor at the University of Ottawa’s School of Health Sciences, warns that the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. “(The pandemic) is raging as fiercely as ever,” Deonandan told Global News.

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For the week of Aug. 7 to Aug. 13, Canada had 24,161 cases of COVID-19, with Ontario having the highest number of 10,655 cases, according to Health Canada. Although most regions in Canada appear to be at or past the peak of the current wave of COVID-19, regional increases in cases and hospitalizations continue, Canada’s top doctor Theresa Tam said in a tweet on Friday. Story continues below ad 1/4 #COVID19 key concerns 🇨🇦: most areas appear to be at or past the peak of current wave activity, but regional variability in disease/severity trends continues, incl. increasing number of cases, drainage signals and hospitalization in some areas. https://t.co/07V9i7AgV5 — Dr. Theresa Tam (@CPHO_Canada) August 19, 2022 “Also, with SARSCoV2 continuing to circulate around the world, Canada must prepare for renewed COVID-19 activity, including possible new variants in the coming months,” Tam wrote. “In particular, as part of our preparations for the fall, with more people returning to personal work and children returning to school, vaccine awareness is a top priority.” Deonandan says the key concern for now and the coming season is the ability of Canada’s health care system to absorb the needs of patients. Across Canada, hospitals and health care services are seeing high patient volumes due to staff shortages. This has resulted in longer waiting times in emergency rooms, a shortage of ambulances and even the closure of some units. Story continues below ad By reducing the risk of contracting COVID-19, individuals can help health care workers ease stress on the system as they struggle to keep up with demand, Deonandan said. 1:06 Health Canada approves COVID-19 booster vaccine for children aged five to 11 Health Canada approves COVID-19 booster vaccine for children aged five to 11 years

			COVID measures don’t have to be perfect

Horacio Bach, a clinical assistant professor in the division of infectious diseases at the University of British Columbia School of Medicine, says he believes many are now under the impression that COVID-19 is over because provincial governments have lifted some or most restrictions. Story continues below ad “But we have to remember that we’re dealing with this virus that can flare up at any time,” Bach said. “We don’t know when this will come, so just take the same precautions we took when COVID-19 first started and follow the guidelines we have from the beginning.” Bach said Canada could expect an increase in cases during the fall and winter due to variants of COVID-19. “These variants will re-infect the person, even if you’re vaccinated,” Bach said. “Even if you caught COVID-19 recently or a while ago, you will still be infected because the antibodies we created against the virus are the antibodies against the original strain that came in late 2019 early 2020 and is not currently present vaccine against the new Omicron virus. “So once these new variants have emerged, they can escape the immune system and it’s a natural part of the evolution of the virus,” Bach said. “That’s why the vaccines we get aren’t as effective at stopping the infection.” Bach suggested people double up on the mask to reduce the risk of infection.

		Read more: Canada’s COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths steady, but higher than past summers

Deonandan says there is a common misconception that COVID protocols have to be perfect. Story continues below ad “They don’t have to be perfect. They have to be good and every good layer of protection adds a greater level of protection,” he said. “So the masks are not perfect, but they are good. Vaccination isn’t perfect, but it’s good. Symptom controls are certainly not perfect, but they are good,” Deonandan said. “By doing all these things in coordination, you get extremely good protection.” Bach said that because the protections we have now or the restrictions in place are “not as strict,” the virus continues to multiply. “As the virus continues to multiply, a new variant can appear anywhere, at any time, in anyone,” Bach said.

			Don’t forget the flu

Deonandan says it’s impossible to accurately predict the progress of COVID-19 in the fall, but he also warns of an increase in flu infections. Story continues below ad “We have to prepare for a symptomatic (infected) population that looks like COVID, but that’s not COVID,” he said. Since the health care system is already overwhelmed, the flu will add more stress to an already strained sector, Deonandan said. He adds that people should get the flu shot as soon as it becomes available in Canada because “the flu is no joke.” “I encourage people to jump at this opportunity to reduce the burden on the hospital system and minimize their personal pain,” he said. There was no community circulation during the 2020–2021 influenza season in Canada, with only 69 positive detections of the virus reported, according to Public Health Canada’s (PHAC) National Annual Influenza Report published in October 2021. 1:14 Fall COVID guidance: Expert urges Canadians to watch out for flu too Fall COVID guidance: Expert urges Canadians to watch out for flu too PHAC says in the report that flu rates were at “historic lows” compared to the previous six seasons, which is largely related to “the implementation of non-drug public health measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.” Story continues below ad A total of 55,379 laboratory detections of influenza were reported during the 2019-2020 season, while there were 42,541 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza during the 2018-2019 season, PHAC said in its annual Fluwatch report published in March 2021 and January 2020, respectively. Flu vaccination coverage as of 2018 was similar, with an estimated 32 to 34 percent of adults aged 18 to 64 having been vaccinated against the virus.

		Read more: In addition to COVID-19, the flu appears to be making a comeback in Canada.  Why;

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza occurred with an annual infection rate estimated at 5 to 10 percent in adults and 20 to 30 percent in children, PHAC said on its website. While PHAC says it’s safe for people 12 and older to get the flu shot at the same time as the COVID-19 shot, the National Advisory Council on Immunization (NACI) recommends that children ages five to 11 get have an interval of 14 days between a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines. “This is to help better monitor for potential side effects from the COVID-19 vaccines,” it says. “Provinces and territories will decide over time for this age group as part of their vaccination programs.” PHAC states that the flu vaccine can not only protect Canadians from the flu virus, but also reduce their chances of getting infected with COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. Story continues below ad 1:57 Fact or fiction: Does COVID-19 make you more susceptible to flu, other viruses? Fact or Fiction: Does COVID-19 Make You More Susceptible to Flu, Other Viruses? – April 27, 2022

			COVID-19 Safety Precautions as Kids Head Back to School

With many returning to classrooms in September, Bach said parents should vaccinate their children because schools are like incubators for COVID-19. Bach said that in cases where the child is immunocompromised or is undergoing certain treatments or certain diseases again, parents should continue to cover their children because it is the easiest way to protect everyone. Story continues below ad As of August 14, 87.41 per cent of Canadians aged 12 to 17 have been vaccinated with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 55.38 per cent of five to 11-year-olds have had at least one dose. “I think parents need to remember that vaccination is important to reduce the risk of infection, reduce the risk of transmission and, most importantly, reduce the risk of your child being hospitalized,” Deonandan said. “But don’t just trust your Facebook friend,” Deonandan said. “Talk to your health care provider if you have any questions (about vaccinations).” Deonandan suggests parents give their children high-quality masks, such as N95 caliber, to reduce the risk of infection. He adds, however, that high-quality masks can be expensive, especially for low-income families. So schools and governments should step up and help families get personal protective equipment (PPE) where they can, Deonandan said. As for the school administration…