More than 80% of Canada’s confirmed COVID-19 cases are in Ontario and Quebec.
Tuesday’s new federal modelling shows outbreaks in long-term care and seniors homes are driving these regional epidemics.
The country’s Chief Public Health Officer says Canada’s epidemic growth is slowing.
Dr. Theresa Tam says although the growth rate previously doubled every 3 days early in the epidemic, the number of cases in Canada is now doubling every 16 days.
Dr. Tam says Canada should see up to 66,000 cases by May 5th with deaths peaking at 3,833.
She confirmed the initial models under-predicted the number of deaths because of the sudden spike of regional outbreaks in long-term care homes.
According to the updated federal modelling, consistent and strong epidemic control would result in up to 10% of the population infected. That’s nearly 4 million Canadians.
Weaker epidemic control would see up to half the Canadian population infected.
Dr. Tam was quick to remind Canadians that models are not crystal balls, they do not show the future but rather help drive us to the best outcomes.
Tam says currently each infected person passes the virus to roughly two people, a number that has to go down to less than one person before public health measures are eased.