Final week, the Authorities of Canada introduced new journey restrictions within the hope of limiting the unfold of COVID-19.
Obligatory airport testing shall be carried out in Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto — with Toronto’s testing now underway. These 4 cities would be the solely places in Canada funnelling worldwide flights.
Infectious illness specialist Isaac Bogoch not too long ago joined The Morning Present to reply all of your questions on present restrictions and the vaccine rollout.
Learn extra:
Canada’s new journey restrictions a ‘nail within the coffin’ for airways, tourism: specialists
He says though journey accounts for lower than two per cent of Canada’s COVID-19 instances, any measures taken to lower instances needs to be seen as factor.
“We definitely don’t need to import extra of those (COVID-19) variants as a result of they’re going to be arduous sufficient to manage as they’re.”
Over the weekend, Novavax submitted a COVID-19 vaccine to Well being Canada for approval.
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Bogoch says the Novavax vaccine is secure and efficient, having an efficacy of about 90 per cent.
Learn extra:
Novavax submits coronavirus vaccine to Well being Canada for approval
Nonetheless, he provides, the vaccine trial in South Africa resulted in decrease efficacy.
“It was round 50 to 60 per cent in that inhabitants,” he says, emphasizing that it nonetheless supplies a big quantity of safety.
Individuals who do get the an infection are prone to have a much less extreme sickness, he provides.
Learn extra:
When can we anticipate the coronavirus vaccine? Physician solutions COVID-19 questions
With COVID-19 instances trending downwards in Canada, some provinces are starting to ease up on their restrictions.
In cities like Toronto, nonetheless, public well being officers are advising the lockdown stay in place till June.
Bogoch says the variation in regional measures is sensible since coordinating your entire nation can be difficult, however provinces selecting to reopen ought to accomplish that rigorously.
“The foundations have modified,” he says, including we must be vigilant about new COVID-19 variants getting into Canada.
Learn extra:
‘Higher velcro’: Why does the U.Okay. coronavirus variant unfold extra simply?
Bogoch says the variants might be saved below management, however provinces nonetheless want to verify they’ve taken the mandatory steps to cut back transmission.
For individuals contemplating gathering to observe the Tremendous Bowl this weekend, Bogoch strongly advises towards it.
“This isn’t the time to get collectively in indoor settings with our pals,” he says, including we should always adhere to public well being measures so we might be secure and hold COVID-19 case numbers down.
For extra details about COVID-19 restrictions and the vaccine rollout, watch the complete video above.
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