Canada’s abandoning of COVID-19 testing leaves us vulnerable to future variants, experts say – CBC

Lack of PCR testing hinders variant surveillance, hides true level of spread

Feb 26, 2022

Canada is entering a period of relative calm as the Omicron-driven fifth wave subsides across much of the country. But our ability to track new and existing variants is in jeopardy with testing access still heavily restricted — leaving us vulnerable to pandemic whiplash.

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, said Friday that COVID-19 levels have continued to decline in most of Canada, with weekly case counts down 26 per cent and hospitalizations and ICU admissions down 20 per cent compared to the previous week.

“Nevertheless, as the virus is still circulating widely, some jurisdictions are reporting weekly increases in case counts and others could see additional bumps in the weeks ahead,” she said.

“At the same time, there is a continued high volume of PCR testing being performed and ongoing genetic sequencing of circulating virus variants.”

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/canada-covid-19-testing-omicron-variants-1.6365133