Therapid spread of more contagious Covid-19 variants is believed to have driven adevastating third wave in Canada.
Asof Saturday afternoon, a total of 30,108 variant of concern cases have beenreported across Canada, including 28,624 B.1.1.7 variants, 1,133 P.1 variantsand 351 B.1.351 variants, according to CTV.
Asof Saturday afternoon, Canada reported 5,986 new cases of Covid-19, bringingthe cumulative total to 1,051,246, including 23,282 deaths, according to CTV.
"AlthoughB.1.1.7, which is now confirmed in all provinces and two territories, continuesto account for the majority of variants of concern in Canada and has likelyreplaced the original virus in some areas, there has been a concerning rise inP.1 cases in recent weeks," Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public healthofficer, said in a statement on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.
"Earlyevidence suggests that the P.1 variant may reduce the effectiveness ofvaccines, making it even more important to control its spread," Tam addedin the statement.
Thenumber of confirmed variant cases in Canada has skyrocketed in recent weeks,rising from about 2,000 a month ago to over 30,000 as of Saturday afternoon andcounting, with more than 90 per cent of those being the B.1.1.7 variant firstidentified in Britain.
TheP1 variant first discovered in Brazil is also on the rise in Canada, with casesincreasing to more than 1,100 as of Saturday afternoon, mostly in the populousprovinces of British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta.
Meanwhile,the B.1.351 variant first found in South Africa is also picking up steam, withmore than 350 cases identified in the country.
"Therace between the vaccine and the variants is at a critical point," Tamsaid. "It is clear that we need stronger control to combat variants ofconcern that are driving rapid epidemic growth in many areas of thecountry."
YoungerCanadians are being impacted harder in the third wave, Tam said, with infectionrates highest among those aged 20 to 39 and a rise in the number ofhospitalizations and ICU admissions in those under 60.
Thefact is Canada's third wave of Covid-19 is showing no signs of slowing down asthe vaccine rollout gradually ramps up, meaning Canadians need to buckle downuntil more of us get a shot, Canadian experts said.
Theyadded that Canada's slower vaccine rollout means our third wave could last intoJune.
Altogether,7,569,321 vaccine doses have been administered as of Friday, according to thePublic Health Agency of Canada.