'The virus has changed': Virologist details risk as Manitoba enters the fourth wave
With Manitoba’s top doctor declaring that the province has entered the fourth wave, one virologist is urging people to get vaccinated to decrease the risk of the Delta variant.
“We know that we have to have immunity in our populations as high as possible for Delta,” said Dr. Jason Kindrachuk in an interview on Monday.
“And certainly, we already know that we’re a little bit behind the eight ball because kids under the age of 12 can’t be vaccinated, so we have to take that percentage off the top, so that doesn’t leave us a lot of room. Anywhere below that, we’re going to see transmission.”
Kindrachuk’s comments come after Manitoba health officials announced 366 new COVID-19 cases from Sept. 24 to Sept. 27.
Kindrachuk said these numbers concern him.
“We certainly know that Delta is moving through the unvaccinated very, very quickly,” he said.
“And it has a predilection for causing severe disease in those folks, because they don’t have any protection. So this is a very, very concerning time.”
Kindrachuk noted to reduce the risk of the Delta variant, which is highly transmissible, Manitobans need to get vaccinated.
This is of particular importance in the Southern Health Region, which has the lowest uptake in the province at just over 65 per cent.
“We need a concerted message from our elected officials basically speaking in concert with one another to try and basically get testing increased in these regions and certainly get vaccine uptake, and masking and distancing basically adhered to,” Kindrachuk said.
As for how many eligible Manitobans need to get fully vaccinated to mitigate the risk of the Delta variant, Kindrachuk said as many people as possible.
“The reality is the virus has changed,” he said.
“Viruses are unpredictable at the best of times, and certainly they do what they do very well. Delta, because of its transmissibility, has pushed that value up extremely high and we’re talking certainly between 90 to 100 per cent.”
When asked what could happen as Manitoba enters the fourth wave, Kindrachuk said he hopes we’re in a better position than other provinces due to the high vaccination rates in certain areas, including Winnipeg.
“Hopefully, that will mitigate some of the concerns,” he said. “We are still not at baseline in our hospitals, and that is a big concern.”
- With files from CTV’s Maralee Caruso.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for "all parties" to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Taylor Swift drops 15 new songs on double album, 'The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology'
On Friday, the pop star released her 11th album and at 2 a.m. Eastern, she released "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology," featuring 15 additional songs.
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.