Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health, gave an update on the province’s progress in this year’s respiratory illness season:
“We are seeing a decline in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), flu and COVID activity throughout the province," he said this morning.
"RSV trends are beginning to stabilize and decline, and after the annual 12-week flu season, the number of cases of flu peaked at the end of November, case rates continue to decline, and the impact on our communities, hospitals, and intensive care units is improving. On the COVID front, key indicators are showing signs of improvement after a rise over the holiday period due to the BQ.1 variant and its sub-lineages."
Moore cautions you must remain vigilant as many jurisdictions across the province continue to see a rise in the number of cases of the more transmissible XBB.1.5 variant of COVID-19.
"XBB.1.5 has not been associated with a change in the severity of illness, but due to its increased transmissibility, more individuals may get infected as it becomes the main variant in Ontario. I continue to strongly recommend that everyone stays up to date with their vaccinations as it remains our best defence.
Paxlovid is an outpatient oral anti-viral treatment used to reduce severe outcomes from COVID-19 and is now easier to access for more people across Ontario. Prescriptions are available for free to eligible individuals through pharmacies across the province, any physician or nurse practitioner in Ontario, as well as clinical assessment centres.
The province’s guidance on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing has been updated to align with the current recommendations for who should receive Paxlovid, which further improves access to this effective treatment option.
"I encourage Ontarians with a positive test and symptoms consistent with COVID-19 to speak to their healthcare provider to determine if this treatment is appropriate for them."
Free PCR tests are offered at any provincial testing location and rapid antigen tests can continue to be picked up at no charge in over 3,000 retail locations in the province.
Stay home if you feel sick, wash your hands often, cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing and wear a mask in crowded indoor public spaces, especially those at higher risk.
People can continue to use rapid antigen tests (RATs) at home to confirm COVID-19 infection to obtain treatment. However, for high-risk patients eligible for Paxlovid who are experiencing symptoms but are testing negative by RAT, a PCR test is recommended to confirm a diagnosis and meet the five-day treatment window.