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The sixth COVID-19 wave is here Canada is in the sixth wave of the pandemic, the country’s top doctor told reporters Tuesday, as COVID-19 cases surge across the country. "It depends on the location, but yes, we can say we are experiencing a sixth wave in Canada, generally speaking," Dr. Theresa Tam said. Daily average cases counts rose by 28 per cent nationally during the week leading up to March 31, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). Community wastewater also signalled a rising case trend. Tam urged Canadians to get their boosters amid the resurgence. "Getting a booster dose doesn't just protect you against severe illness, it also provides a level of protection against infection, which in turn helps to reduce transmission," she said. Read more from Tam’s latest update here. 
What do we know about the XE variant? Scientists are keeping a close eye on the latest COVID-19 variant to emerge: XE. The sub-lineage of Omicron, which was first detected in the U.K. in January, is what experts call a "recombinant virus." This means the variant is a combination of genetic material from two or more different viruses. In the case of XE, it’s the original subvariant of Omicron (BA.1) and the more infectious BA.2. As of April 6, Canada had detected six cases of the XE recombinant lineage, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) told Global News on Wednesday. "As long you have everything open now — no mask on and nothing — the potential that you generate new mutants, variants or new recombinants is always open," said Dr. Horacio Bach, an infectious diseases expert at the University of British Columbia. But how concerned should we be? Global News reporter Saba Aziz has more on what is known about the XE variant. 
Q: Are there any risks to getting a fourth COVID shot? I recently became eligible and while I know vaccines are generally safe, I can't help but wonder if there are any potential dangers to getting so many doses in such a short time period. “So far there have not been any additional risks related to getting a fourth COVID shot, but there is mounting evidence of additional benefit, particularly for older adults and those living in congregate settings like long-term care homes,” said Dr. Samir Sinha, director of geriatrics at Sinai Health in Toronto. “Generally, the risk of serious side effects has remained incredibly small, especially with subsequent doses, especially compared to the consequences of actually getting COVID and long-COVID.” Sinha pointed to Israel, where the first major fourth dose trial found a second booster helped recipients reduce their chance of becoming infected and helped build their immune response, which might have waned months after their third shot. “While it's understandable that people will start to ask: are all these doses safe and is there a limit to how many we can safely take, it's important to remember that vaccines are not something that last in our bodies for a significant amount of time,” Sinha said. “What does last is the added protection they stimulate in our bodies.” The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recently released its initial guidance on fourth doses. It recommended that people 80 and over be prioritized for the shot. And provinces have since unveiled their rollout plans for doling out the second booster. “I really do encourage everyone who is eligible to get their fourth dose as soon as they become eligible for them,” Sinha said. “It may very well help keep you out of the hospital and remaining healthy and well.” | 
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