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Doctors raise alarm about stark realities of patient surges, ER closures With surging demand forcing emergency room closures across the country, front-line physicians say more immediate help is needed before things get worse. Emergency room doctors say they believe the system has “already collapsed” and are expressing dismay over the daily realities in emergency departments, where they say they are simply not able to keep up with demand. Health worker shortages across the country are a big part of the problem, but a seventh wave of COVID-19 hitting some provinces as well as a surge in sicker patients who waited to receive care because of the pandemic are all symptoms in what doctors and nurses say is a “perfect storm” of pressure on health care services. It has culminated in temporary closures of hospital emergency rooms across the country — leaving patients with no option than to travel longer distances for medical care. To learn more about what front-line physicians are saying about this critical situation, read Teresa Wright’s story here. 
COVID cases are rising – and experts say clearer public health advice is needed A seventh wave of COVID-19 is sweeping across Canada, leading to high rates of infection and increased hospitalizations in most provinces — but unlike previous outbreaks, this hasn't triggered a return to public health measures. Provincial chief public health officers have been giving mixed messaging on this. Ottawa’s top doctor is encouraging people to wear masks indoors and outdoors in crowded spaces, while both Quebec and Ontario’s chief health officer has said mask mandates and other restrictions will not be brought back at this time. Health experts say the public should be getting clearer messaging that even if virus protection measures like masking and distancing aren't being mandated by law, they should still be followed. Read more details here. 
Q: Are the symptoms of the BA.5 variant different than previous strains of COVID-19? Dr. Jayne Danska, immunology professor and senior scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, says she has not seen reported evidence that the types of symptoms from BA.5 infection differ from previous SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as Omicron. But, she says, compared to the earlier Delta variant infections, both Omicron and BA.5 are more easily transmissible between infected persons and are reported to cause milder symptoms. “Symptom severity for any of these infections is impacted by vaccination status. Fully-vaccinated persons generally have less severe symptoms,” she said. Symptoms can also vary for people of different ages and those with other existing conditions, such as individuals who are immunocompromised due to treatments, ongoing recovery from surgery or other illness such as diabetes and chronic obstructive lung disease. “The tools that keep people safe and limit the severity of BA.5 infection remain,” she said. They include: Vaccination status: All medical professionals continue to emphasize importance of being fully vaccinated and getting boosters if you’re eligible Wearing masks in high congregant settings COVID-19 testing if you have symptoms and/or have known recent exposures to COVID-positive persons Self-isolation if you are symptomatic or have tested positive with COVID-19 | 
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