Don't let your guard down as warmer weather arrives: ICU doctor
The warmer weather and long weekend ahead pose a concern for a Newmarket ICU physician as people tend to let their guard down.
"My worry is that we are going to see people treating the long holiday weekend like any other holiday long weekend as though there were no risk and no threat and no virus," said Dr. Barry Nathanson.
The Southlake Regional Health Centre doctor said he hoped as temperatures rise, it would encourage more people to gather outdoors as a safer alternative.
He said doing a personal risk assessment during the summer before gathering is crucial.
"What will happen to me? How high risk am I to contracting the virus? And what is likely to happen to me if I get sick?" are questions Dr. Nathanson said everyone should ask before being around others outside their household.
He noted the higher the risk, the more measures the person should take, such as wearing a K95 or N95 mask and social distancing in public.
"We want to see you out there enjoying yourselves, there are ways and means to do it, but it does not include assuming the pandemic is over."
Meanwhile, staffing shortages continue to plague Ontario hospitals, Dr. Nathanson said.
He told CTV News more hospital staff have fallen ill with COVID-19 recently, while others are off work due to fatigue.
"We're seeing a very high dependence in general upon what we refer to as agency staffing."
This comes when the amount of COVID-19 in the community is unclear because so many people now rely on home rapid antigen tests.
Dr. Nathanson said the data is limited, but noted hospitalizations and wastewater signals suggest case volumes remain high.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Iraq investigates a blast at a base of Iran-allied militias that killed 1. U.S. denies involvement
Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight.
The House is on the brink of approving aid for Ukraine and Israel after months of struggle
The House is preparing in a rare Saturday session to approve US$95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies.