More provinces are loosening COVID-19 restrictions as hospitalizations in some parts of the country appear to plateau, but health officials caution that eased measures could lead to increased infections in the coming weeks.
"We really certainly hope that we will not have to get back (to restrictions) in any way, but there’s a risk," said Dr. Luc Boileau, Quebec's interim director of public health.
COVID-19 hospitalizations in Quebec dropped Wednesday by 122 to 2,730, and the number of people in intensive care decreased by 14 to 204.
Quebec released modelling that showed the decrease may not last long. Boileau said the number of infections, and ultimately hospitalizations, is likely to rise again with children going back to school and the softening of health measures.
Quebec restaurant dining rooms opened Monday at 50 per cent capacity. Restrictions are to continue to loosen in the coming weeks, including reopening places of worship, sports venues and gyms.
Boileau said the next two to three weeks will be pivotal in the pandemic's course. He urged people to get a COVID-19 booster shot and to be diligent in wearing masks.
"It depends on the population and if they want to participate," he said.
Ontario also saw a slight decrease in COVID-19 hospitalizations to 2,939 people, a drop of 152. There were 555 patients in intensive care.
Long-Term Care Minister Paul Calandra said he was reviewing a policy restricting social visits. Just over half the care homes in the province are experiencing outbreaks — a slight dip from previous weeks.
Ontario is also moving forward with its timeline to ease restrictions, despite warnings from the province's scientific advisory panel. Scientists warned earlier this week that infections, hospitalizations and intensive care admissions are likely to rise after the move and that modelling shows prolonged pressure on health care.
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said the daily number of people with COVID-19 in hospitals is dipping slightly at the national level. But, she added, it remains high and is still rising in some jurisdictions.
"Where some public health measures are easing, layers of personal protective practices remain crucial for reducing spread and preventing resurgence," she said in a social media post.
Alberta and Saskatchewan reported record numbers of people in hospital with COVID-19 this week as both provinces announced plans to remove vaccine passport requirements by the end of the month.
Dr. Eben Strydom, president of the Saskatchewan Medical Association, advised that governments shouldn't pick arbitrary dates to change health orders.
"It is too soon to loosen, or remove, public health measures,” he said in a news release this week.
"Why take that chance now? Why further strain the health-care system and those who work in it?"
Manitoba's chief public health officer announced the province will join others in relaxing public health measures. Restrictions on gathering sizes and people allowed at sports events are to be loosened starting Tuesday.
"The data and modelling show that we are stabilizing and may have in fact passed the peak we expected from (the) Omicron (variant)," said Dr. Brent Roussin.
"The next few weeks will be critical as we monitor these trends and determine if it is appropriate to reduce additional restrictions over the longer term.”
Premier Heather Stefanson pointed out that Manitoba has often been the first to shut down and the last to reopen throughout the pandemic. She said she hopes there will be no restrictions by spring.
Meanwhile, Dr. Katharine Smart, president of the Canadian Medical Association, cautioned that protests in Ottawa against public health orders have a risk of being a superspreader event. She said it has "essentially become an occupation on our capital."
“It’s been incredibly distressing," Smart said during a news conference. She called on Canada to do more to support COVAX, the global vaccine-sharing alliance.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 2, 2022.
— With files from Morgan Lowrie in Montreal
Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press
