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COVID cases ticking higher, wastewater data shows Public health measures may be easing across the country but COVID-19 cases are on the rise again. A Global News analysis of the latest provincial wastewater data shows a resurgence of COVID in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and parts of British Columbia. "The reality is that as all of the restrictions come off in terms of masking and the other measures which have been in place for some period of time, we can expect that more cases are going to be out there," said Dr. Steve Hrudey, chair of the research advisory group of the Canadian Water Network COVID-19 Wastewater Coalition. "The next few days to weeks are going to be important to watch," he said. Wastewater signals have become an important tool in painting a more accurate picture of how prevalent COVID actually is — as testing capacity has dwindled in recent months. Saba Aziz has the full analysis here. 
Doctors are still feeling COVID burnout National survey results published by the Canadian Medical Association earlier this week show just how many doctors are feeling burnt out from the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey of 4,000 physicians and medical residents conducted in November 2021 showed 53 per cent have experienced "high levels" of burnout — an increase from only 30 per cent four years before. And nearly half (46 per cent) of doctors are considering reducing their work in clinics in the next two years. "With each subsequent wave, it chipped away at our confidence (that) the system … would take care of us and that we'd be able to provide care with our best selves, versus this run-down, shell of who you become if you work full-time,” CMA president-elect Dr. Alika Lafontaine, said. The majority of physicians surveyed said their mental health worsened during the pandemic, 57 per cent of whom attributed that to increased workload and poor work-life integration. Global News’ Adam Toy has the details here. 
Q: I caught COVID in December just after receiving my booster. How likely am I to catch it again now that BA.2 cases are rising? “The Omicron variants BA.1 and BA.2 are remarkable for their ability to sidestep immunity of both vaccines but also previous infection from pre-Omicron variants to cause infection,” says Sumon Chakrabarti, an infectious disease physician with Trillium Health Partners. “That said, the vaccine and previous infection still protect you well against severe disease with Omicron.” Chakrabarti noted that if you contracted Omicron in December or January, that would have been BA.1, which he said does provide “significant” cross-immunity to BA.2. “If you’ve had BA1, you’re protected against BA2 as well,” he said. “There is a slight chance you may get a mild flu-like illness, but the bottom line is you are well-protected against severe complications, like hospitalization and death.” | 
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