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More rapid tests coming The federal government plans to deliver 140 million rapid COVID-19 tests across Canada this month as the Omicron variant continues to rage, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said at a press conference Wednesday. "As requested by our provincial and territorial colleagues, these tests will be allocated to provinces and territory on a per capita basis," Duclos said, adding that deliveries are “well underway.” Rapid COVID-19 antigen tests have been hard to come by as demand quickly outpaced supply. It is ultimately up to the provinces how they distribute the tests. Duclos said Wednesday that there have been 120 million rapid tests distributed to date in Canada, with 85 million before December 2021 and 35 million in December. Global News reporter Aaron D’Andrea has the details. 
When will COVID-19 become endemic? As the Omicron variant rips through populations across the globe, some say it could speed up the timeline for when the pandemic shifts to an endemic state and causes less disruption to our daily lives. But COVID-19's shift into endemicity won't be like flipping a switch, public health experts warn. As Canadians await the transition, there are some signals we can watch for, according to infectious disease specialist Dr. Gerald Evans. "It won't be a black-and-white thing, but what we're going to see is … that these pandemic waves tend to disappear," Evans said. "We don't see these large, huge rises in cases in the population, and instead we just see some activity, which may be seasonal." As for when that could happen? Here’s what experts told Global News reporter Rachel Gilmore. 
Q: If my 11-year-old has had her first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, is it safe for her to visit with her 79-year-old grandmother who now has a booster? “As we move into this pandemic, things are not as cut at dried as before and there are more shades of grey,” says Anna Banerji, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and associate professor in the University of Toronto's department of medicine and school of public health. “Much of this is dependent on the risk tolerance of the family, and other factors such as is the grandmother healthy? Does she have underlying conditions that would put her at increased risk of severe disease?” Banerji says if there are any risks then it might be better to wait until the granddaughter gets her second dose. “There is so much COVID out there right now, so it also depends on the grandchild’s exposure,” she said. Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccines for kids aged five to 11 mid-November 2021. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends an eight-week interval between the first and second doses for that age group. | 
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