Number of new COVID-19 and flu cases declines, health unit says
But positive test numbers remain high and reports underestimate actual cases
The number of new COVID-19 and influenza cases has dropped since Christmas and the per cent of tests showing positive has declined, say the latest data from the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit.
There were 36 new COVID-19 cases and 14 new influenza cases shown by lab tests, the unit says in the latest report on its website. The number of emergency department visits for symptoms of influenza-like or respiratory illnesses has also declined.
The unit notes that the reported cases underestimate the number of actual cases since the public no longer has access to PCR tests, so only the most severe cases are reported.
Since September 1 there have been 4,950 visits to emergency departments in the unit’s area for symptoms of flu or respiratory problems, with 1,659 -- 30 per cent -- involving children nine or younger.
For COVID-19, the positivity level of tests dropped from a peak of 28.5 per cent on Dec. 18 to 20.8 per cent on Jan. 7. But that level is still higher than peaks in February 2023 of 21.2 per cent and October 2022 of 20.1 per cent, illustrating that the virus remains prevalent.
For Trent Hills, the data show two currently active cases and an incident rate of 29.9, compared to 37 active cases in all the municipalities covered by the unit and an incident rate averaging 46.5. The incident rates are shown per 100,000 people to make them comparable.
Canada’s top vaccine experts say seniors and younger people with compromised immune systems should get another dose of a COVID-19 vaccine this spring. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization made the recommendation on Friday so that provincial vaccination programs could prepare for a spring mini-campaign for the most vulnerable. As of early December, only 15 per cent of Canadians had received a reformulated version of the shot targeting the XBB family of variants.
The national results reported by the Public Health Agency of Canada in its weekly FluWatch report show a similar trend. “At the national level, influenza activity decreased this week but remain at elevated levels. Most surveillance indicators are decreasing and are within expected levels typical of this time of year,” it says.