NEW FEDERAL COVID-19 PROJECTIONS SHOW SLOWER SPREAD, BUT MEASURES MUST REMAIN
Apr 28, 2020
By Bob Komsic
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Safety measures are working to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Canada, but the latest federal modelling shows more Canadians are dying even though the increase in new cases is slowing down.
The number of new cases is doubling every 16 days now after doubling every three days previously.
What health officials are calling a pandemic paradox is the result of an unexpectedly high number of deaths in long-term care home.
While the number of cases has levelled off in some provinces, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says the caseload in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta is ”driving” the pandemic’s growth.
Ontario and Quebec now account for about eight-in-ten cases in the country.
For the virus to die off, the average number of people to whom an infected person passes the virus must drop below one.
Dr. Tam says right now, the average number is slightly more than one.
She also cautions safety measures need to remain in place until there’s a high level of immunity or a vaccine in order to avoid ”future epidemic waves.”