As COVID wastewater data hits significant highs in the Middlesex-London area, more cases of the virus and other respiratory infections can be expected in the new year, says the region's top doctor.
The start of 2024 will be the midst of respiratory virus season, with continued COVID activity and an increase in influenza infections and other cold and cough viruses, said medical officer of health Dr. Alex Summers.
"The key thing to take away from the wastewater data, as well as other markers of COVID and other respiratory virus activity in Ontario, is that it is respiratory virus season and there is a lot of illness out there right now," he said.
COVID wastewater data across the province has spiked, and it appears to be even higher than at points during the pandemic, said Summers.
"Here in the southwestern Ontario region, it's fairly levelled but its very high", he said. "Throughout the fall, we've seen increasing levels of COVID within our wastewater all telling us the COVID virus continues to circulate at a high rate in Ontario."
Summers urged the importance of staying up-to-date with COVID vaccinations and boosters, and said he was disappointed with the low number of people in the region who have received a booster in recent months.
"Regrettably, only 16 per cent of those over the age of 12 in Middlesex-London got a COVID booster in the last six months," he said. "That's too low. My New Year's wish for 2024 is that we get ourselves more vaccinated for COVID."
It's also important to reflect on the ways that the severity of COVID has changed, Summers added. Although the symptoms are respiratory, causing fatigue, a sore throat, difficulties breathing, and fevers, its severity can vary depending on each person.
Colder months are prime-time for respiratory viruses to spread easily because more people are gathering indoors, said Summers. While he's not discouraging people from getting together, Summers does suggest some simple steps to protect against the virus.
These steps include: Washing hands on a regular basis, particularly when returning home from another place, covering coughs, and avoiding seeing others while sick.
