Toronto may be past its flu peak, but COVID-19 remains high, public health agency says – CBC

Experts say people need to stay up to date on vaccines even if COVID-19 is less severe

Jan 16, 2024

Toronto likely reached its influenza season peak in December, but according to Toronto Public Health’s latest respiratory illness update, COVID-19 infections are expected to remain high for now.

The percentage of positive influenza tests dropped to 6.6 per cent the week of Dec. 31 to Jan. 6, down from 15.6 per cent the week prior, Toronto Public Health (TPH) told the city’s Board of Health Monday. When it comes to COVID-19, positivity dropped only slightly to 17.6 per cent for the week of Dec. 31 to Jan. 6 from 18.6 per cent the week before.

But getting over the influenza peak doesn’t mean there aren’t still high levels of the illness in the city.

“We went up the rollercoaster, we were at the top, that was the peak,” Dr. Vinita Dubey, TPH’s associate medical officer of health told CBC Toronto. “But even on the way down, you still have a lot of activity on the other side until you get to the bottom again.”

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-covid-flu-levels-1.7084447

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