Decline in severe COVID outcomes levelling off: Tam

Canada's top public health doctor says a national decline in severe COVID-19 outcomes, such as hospitalizations and deaths, is starting to level off.

1/2 #COVID19 key concerns in Canada 🇨🇦: nationally, disease activity has levelled off at a high level since mid-February and average daily case counts are now on the rise. Latest national-level data show a 7-day average of 3,194 new cases daily (Mar 10-16) https://t.co/qrDbXtqalC

— Dr. Theresa Tam (@CPHO_Canada) March 17, 2021

Dr. Theresa Tam says provincial and territorial data show an average of 2,048 people with COVID-19 were being treated in Canadian hospitals every day over the seven-day period that ended yesterday.

She says that includes 550 people who were in intensive care units. An average of 31 COVID-related deaths were reported each day during that same period.

Tam has also warned in recent days that average daily case counts of COVID-19 are now on the rise again across the country after plateauing for several weeks.

The public health doctor says infection rates are highest among those between the ages of 20 and 39, who may then spread it to more vulnerable populations.

Meanwhile, the federal government says nearly 3,330,100 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Canada as of today.

In Toronto, three city-run mass immunization clinics opened their doors Wednesday.

At the same time, a panel of scientists advising the Ontario government recommended taking the shots directly into buildings with large populations of seniors in order to protect those most likely to be hospitalized or die as a result of the virus.

In a report published Wednesday, the province's Science Advisory Table identified 489 such buildings in Toronto alone, including more than 250 in neighbourhoods with the highest incidence of COVID-19.