COVID-19: Scientists say Ontario has entered third wave; Officials change advice on AstraZeneca vaccine

March 16, 2021NOW Staff

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Ontario science advisors declare third wave

5:20 pm The provincial science advisory table on COVID-19 declared today that parts of the province have entered a third wave.

“So, here we are: Ontario’s Third Wave,” the group tweeted on Tuesday alongside data showing fast-spreading virus mutations accounting for 49 per cent of total cases (733 of 1,489) on March 15, and “driving the growth.”

“Sadly, we are in fact ‘all in this together,'” the group added. “Ontario is organized into 34 public health units; almost two-thirds are now experiencing exponential growth of SARS-CoV2.”

In response, Premier Doug Ford said during a press briefing at Humber College that Ontarians must be “very very, cautious moving forward.”

Ford receives advice from the independent group but said he would heed advice from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health David Williams when it comes to responding to the surge in cases.

So, here we are: Ontario’s Third Wave. This isn’t a model.. Blue line is overall SARS-CoV2 spread; Orange line is VOCs — now almost half of the pandemic and driving the growth. (The two lines are now parallel). #COVID19Ontario https://t.co/U6F16usw2A pic.twitter.com/i8hcod9XAo
— COVIDScienceOntario (@COVIDSciOntario) March 16, 2021

NACI vaccine reversal “messes everything up,” Ford says

5:15 pm The National Advisory Committee on Immunization’s new advice that the AstraZeneca vaccine is in fact safe for people 65 and up complicates the province’s immunization plans, Premier Doug Ford said today.

The federal body reversed a decision recommending the two-shot vaccine not be given to seniors as Ontario is in the midst of a pilot project prioritizing that particular vaccine for people between 60 and 65.

Meanwhile, the province is currently focusing other available vaccines on people 80 and up and other at-risk populations.

Asked how this will affect the vaccine rollout, Ford said Ontario would “fulfill the commitment with the people that have already registered” for the shots at pharmacies and via their doctors.

“When we get a change of direction from the feds, which is NACI, and they’re changing and moving the goal posts, I can’t begin to tell you the logistics behind it,” Ford told reporters during a press conference at Humber College. “It just messes everything up to be frank with you.”

Though he conceded the NACI decision is “good news,” he added that “we have everyone lined up and all of a sudden without notice now we move the goalpost again.”

Ford added it’s not yet clear when Ontario will receive more AstraZeneca doses – possibly next week or possibly in April.

City wants ActiveTO to expand to Yonge north of Bloor

2 pm A city staff report is recommending a stretch of Yonge between Bloor and Davisville be transformed as part of this year’s ActiveTO program.

Introduced last summer to allow people to physical distance while exercising, the program involved major road closures to vehicle traffic on 25 consecutive weekends from summer to fall, as well as the expansion of cycling routes.

This year, the city is recommending the temporary cycling network program expand to midtown “as part of a complete street pilot project subject to further review of the potential impact to surface transit operations as part of the detailed design process.”

If the the infrastructure and environment committee approves the new cycling route, the city would hold consultations with local stakeholders and plan to add bike lanes, CaféTO patios, loading and parking options, road safety improvements and public realm enhancements.

While the closure of Lake Shore West was among the most popular streets during last year’s ActiveTO, construction at the intersection of Queen West, Roncesvalles, King West and the Queensway means closing Lake Shore is likely not feasible this year.

However, the report recommends the expansion of the of the ActiveTO Bayview Cycling Corridor, which would run from Rosedale Valley to River. This extension would run south from River to Mill on a temporary basis as a detour route during the Lower Don Trail construction closure.

Staff also recommend closing Lake Shore East once again as part of ActiveTO.

Here are some of the results from the city’s survey on last year’s ActiveTO:

Ninety-two per cent of those surveyed wanted the closures to continue, during and after COVID-19;
Seventy-five per cent of people reported being more active and nearly all agreed that the space felt safe and comfortable and was helping them maintain physical distancing;
More than one quarter of those surveyed reported the closures helped them start or re-start riding a bike;
New cyclists and those returning to cycling, included more women and more people identifying as Black, Indigenous or a person of colour compared with long-time cyclists.

AstraZeneca vaccine is safe for people 65 and older: NACI

11:15 am National Advisory Committee on Immunization has changed its advice on the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine and now says the shot is safe for adults age 65 and older.

Medical experts advising the federal government said they have considered three real-world studies into the two-dose vaccine’s efficacy. The studies showed the vaccine to be effective in preventing severe illness and hospitalization among seniors, the NACI said.

When Health Canada approved the vaccine last month, the NACI initially said vaccines using mRNA technology by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna should be prioritized for people older than 65 since there was more evidence of greater efficacy with that age group.

The NACI still recommends the older age group be prioritized for mRNA-based vaccines.

“While all available vaccines in Canada are safe and effective, NACI still recommends that in the context of limited vaccine supply, initial doses of mRNA vaccines should be prioritized for those at highest risk of severe illness and death and highest risk of exposure to COVID-19,” they wrote in revising the recommendation.

Read more here

Ontario reports 1,074 new cases of COVID-19

11 am Ontario reported a daily increase of 1,074 new COVID-19 cases – a drop after several days of new infections trending upward.

However, the daily testing volume was the lowest since February 23, with labs processing just over 28,500 specimens in the past 24 hours.

The positivity rate is 4.5 per cent compared with 3.7 per cent at this time last week.

Ontario detected 1,268 new cases on Monday, 1,747 on Sunday, 1,468 on Saturday and 1,371 on Friday. The seven-day average is is now 1,334, up from 1,187 a week ago.

The virus has killed another 11 people in Ontario, including one long-term care home resident. The provincial death toll is now 7,173.

The Greater Toronto Area continued reporting the province’s highest case counts.

“Locally, there are 313 new cases in Toronto, 199 in Peel and 101 in York Region,” Health Minister Christine Elliott tweeted.

The province is reporting 761 in hospital, with 292 in intensive care and 194 on ventilators.

Yesterday, the Ontario Hospital Association said the province had entered a third wave, citing provincial data showing increases in hospitalizations.

However, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health Eileen de Villa said the city’s data said it’s too early to make a third-wave declaration, and there is still time to head one off if people stick to public health measures, such as staying home, wearing masks and keeping distance.

As of 8 pm last night, Ontario had administered 1,243,132 doses of COVID-19 vaccines.