The COVID-19 new case trajectory is once again in the ascendancy.

On Thursday, the seven-day average of new cases in Ontario was at 476 cases. That’s up from 362 a week ago.

It’s gotten to the point that the head of the Ontario science table, Dr. Peter Juni, has said the province is once again in the fourth wave.

He’s not saying it to cause alarm but rather, to renew his call that the pandemic isn’t over and people should continue committing to masking and physical distancing.

“The most important part of this message is to continue to follow the public health guidelines and masks and so forth and very importantly, to continue to get vaccinated,” Toronto mayor John Tory told CP24. “That’s really the most important thing of all.”

Ontario is approaching 90% of all eligible residents to have gotten vaccinated.

It’s hoped that, even if the cases rise through the winter, hospitals won’t become overwhelmed as the vaccinations help prevent the worst symptoms of the virus.