Stayner doctor ‘reassured’ by recent ICU numbers
Wastewater data collected in parts of the province show that COVID-19 case numbers are increasing.
Dr. Sohail Gandhi, the former president of the Ontario Medical Association, says the data suggests that there are over 30,000 cases per day and that Ontario has entered the sixth wave of the pandemic.
“I really need to emphasize that while that is true, what’s also true is that the number of people in ICU is still holding steady with between 160 to 170 every day. It has not gone up drastically,” said Dr. Gandhi.
He noted that the intensive care unit numbers are reassuring even as hospitalizations increase.
As the number of cases appears to be surging in the province, and with COVID-19 mandates now gone, Dr. Gandhi encourages segments of the population to continue wearing a mask.
“I certainly recommend people who are health care workers like myself; people who are immunocompromised in any way they have a chronic disease —diabetes, COPD, anthemia, any one of those diseases,” said Dr. Gandhi.
Recently, numbers have shown that about ten per cent of the long-term care homes are under an active outbreak.
Dr. Gandhi, who also serves as a medical director for a central Ontario long-term care home, says he sees mild cases amongst the residents.
“I’m actually seeing some harm from the restrictions that public health is forcing on long-term care homes because people who are in long-term care homes suffer from loneliness,” said Dr. Gandhi.
“They are not getting that sick because many of them have four doses of the vaccine,” he added.
As for the new COVID-19 anti-viral drug Paxlovid, Dr. Gandhi says it’s difficult to get and requires an extensive process. He suggests that because supplies are limited, people who have significant immunocompromised diseases should be the ones to be first in line.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
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.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
Police in Paris detain a man wearing fake explosives vest at Iran's Consulate
A man wearing a fake explosive vest and making threats was detained Friday outside the Iranian Consulate in Paris after police locked down the area, authorities said. His motive was unclear.
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds.