Variants

Beware the ‘Kraken’ – but for a different, official reason

The nickname “Kraken” for the XBB.1.5. subvariant of COVID-19 Omicron does not arise from any mandated agency or authority and incites undue fear. When the tentacle wags the giant squid, the media undermine their own credibility as honest arbiters of facts.

The Faces & Phases of COVID-19

The Faces/Phases Project is a portrait of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Through a series of data visualizations, we cover the first two years of the pandemic.

Provinces have charted their own paths, but should all adults in Canada have access to second boosters of the COVID-19 vaccine?

Canadian provinces and territories have gone their own ways on the advisability and availability of fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses. But should the general population be eligible for a fourth dose at this time? Or are we better off waiting? We asked a group of experts to weigh in.

‘It will take time to rebuild trust’: Travel bans upended lives of African students in Canada

Following the emergence of Omicron in late November, Canada and several other countries placed travel restrictions on 10 African nations. While the measures are no longer in force, their effects will be felt for a long time to come.

Cutting through the COVID confusion

Every day, thousands of Canadians are infected with COVID. But this isn’t March 2020. Due to mass vaccination and the particulars of Omicron, the majority of those getting COVID will not need hospital care. What Canadians do need is information, support at home and timely access to primary care.

Omicron may be less severe but ‘let it rip’ is not the answer

Some argue that since Omicron is less severe than previous variants and all Canadians will likely be infected eventually, why not “let it rip” and be done with it? But there are three fundamental problems with this approach.

‘For the virus, one person is the entire environment’: The emergence of Omicron

Some virologists hypothesize that Omicron and other variants of concern emerged after mutating within an immunosuppressed person. The solution, they say, is to get vaccines to under-vaccinated countries.

We’re not safe until we’re all safe: Canada must live up to global vaccine commitments

Global vaccine inequity is not just wrong, but also dangerous. As Omicron is showing us, we aren’t safe until we’re all safe. Here's how Canada can contribute to global vaccine equity now.

‘We shouldn’t emotionalize the discussion. It’s purely pragmatic’: An interview with Peter Jüni

Peter Jüni, the scientific director of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, argues that vaccine certificates are key to managing the COVID-19 pandemic while keeping society open.

Team Vaccine: Listen, Care and Act

Shiran Isaacksz played a key role in organizing a massive effort to vaccinate as much of Toronto as possible. We're profiling him as a Pillars of the Pandemic honouree.

How good is natural immunity?

Is the immunity that comes from having caught COVID-19 as good as the immunity from vaccination? It may well be, at least for some – but there are caveats.

COVID-19 and animal populations

While monitoring new variants of the coronavirus in human populations is top of mind for many, we also need to monitor mutations in animal populations – which could also prove dangerous to humans.

‘It’s not clear yet how it’s going to play out’

With more transmissible variants, like the Delta variant, most experts agree that it's unlikely we'll reach herd immunity. So what might it look like to live in a world where SARS-CoV-2 is endemic, and how do we get there?

A call for better data

A country’s ability to sequence genomic data from samples of SARS-CoV-2 could help it respond effectively to potentially more dangerous variants. But in Canada, there are restrictions that impact the quality of information that is being collected.

Patient Navigator: Just how contagious is the Delta variant?

The Delta variant is far more contagious than the original type of coronavirus and poses a far greater threat to public health. But measures like social distancing, wearing masks and getting vaccinated can help curb its spread.

Five reasons why COVID-19 cases are increasing when vaccination rates are going up

Despite high vaccination coverage, COVID-19 cases are increasing in parts of Canada and experts are predicting a fourth wave this fall (or sooner). Here's why.

‘I got AstraZeneca for my first dose. Which should I get for my second?’ A COVID vaccination guide

If you had AstraZeneca for dose 1, you now have a choice. You can get AstraZeneca for dose 2 or you can get a dose of Moderna or Pfizer instead. We have some information you can use to weigh your options.

Five things to know about AstraZeneca

Here are five important things we all need to understand about the AstraZeneca vaccine.

April 13: “How do you even triage patients who are aged 30 to 50?”

We are figuring out staffing/redeployment, expansion of medical units, possible medication rationing and triaging for sick patients. How do you even triage patients who are aged 30 to 50?

Medical students join urgent calls for paid sick leave

Continued government inaction will only prolong the pandemic, resulting in longer shutdowns, further long-term economic damage and, ultimately, more preventable deaths.