Canada’s public health officials appear to be getting on board with their counterparts in places like Northern Europe, where high vaccination rates are allowing authorities to start dismantling pandemic restrictions.
At a regular media briefing on 04FEB, the country’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, told Canadians that Omicron has proven the virus is here to stay.
"What we need to do going forward, as we emerge out of this Omicron wave, is recognize this virus is not going to disappear. We need to be able to address the ongoing presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a more sustainable way," she said, seemingly acknowledging the toll that some of the strictest restrictions in the world have taken on Canadians.
“We do need to get back to some normalcy," Tam said, adding that all the existing COVID measures need to be "re-examined” in the coming weeks.
Omicron has peaked, but, "Further waves will occur. Some will be quite severe and disruptive and we need to be ready for them. But we do need to have longer-term, sustained approaches and capacity-building so we're not in a crisis mode all the time as we fight this virus."
While vaccinations are not preventing people from contracting Omicron, she pointed out that those with full vaccinations plus boosters are avoiding the most severe outcomes and therefore, also averting pressure on the healthcare system.
In addition to vaccination, Tam pointed to high levels of natural immunity as the highly contagious Omicron infected such large numbers of people, as well as soon-to-be-available treatment drugs like Pfizer’s Paxlovid, as reasons why she is “optimistic” Canada can start taking a new approach to the virus.
Open Jaw reported, and Tam affirmed that federal and provincial health officials are in the process of reviewing current protocols, including severe border and travel restrictions.
That shift in thinking was reiterated by Canada’s deputy chief public health officer, Dr. Howard Njoo, who said that authorities must continue to protect public health, but - finally - without, “unduly restricting travel and trade."
Finally music to the ears of the hardest-hit travel industry.
