Image

Possibility of a better summer ahead

February 25, 2021

Ontario’s top scientist on COVID says to remain cautious now

One of Ontario’s top scientific advisors says there is a chance for a “better summer ahead.”

University of Toronto’s Dr. Adalsteinn Brown released the most current modelling of the COVID-19 pandemic today. He says the lockdowns, while painful, have had an impact saying the spread of the virus has slowed in the community. That, along with long term care residents receiving the COVID-19 vaccine in the last few months has lead to a “substantial” reduction in deaths in the homes. He estimated about 326 senior’s lives have been saved .

And he says the number of health care workers getting sick is down 75 per cent.

“A better summer is ahead if we remain cautious and keep focus,” he says.

Brown is concerned about the variant strains of the virus which are now about 20 per cent of the cases seen in Ontario. A month ago, variants were only five per cent of the total cases.

In the UK, the COVID variants quickly took over and the number of cases tripled. Brown says a scenario like that is still “not off the table” for Ontario.

Brown expects with the current decline of cases, we could see about 500 new COVID cases a day by the end of March. Right now, there are between 1,000 and 1,100 daily.

But he says if the variants become the dominate virus, we could climb to between 2,000 and 4,000 cases a day by the end of March.

Brown was optimistic the vaccines being distributed now are highly effective and do provide protection against COVID-19 “but we have to give it time to work.

“We need a few weeks to understand how variants are acting and rolling out.

“We can’t afford to rush through the minefield. There is a period of remaining risk,” says Brown adding loosening up public health measures should only be done carefully. And when the disease does flare up, government has to act quickly to intervene.

“We could be looking toward a much better summer,” he says “but it requires us to maintain the gains we’ve achieved.”

Share This

Image
Front Page

Forest Kiwanis hope a mandarin, apple and cucumber can raise some cash for Kineto

February 7, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent “Why would somebody give 6.2 million for a banana on the wall?” That’s what Forest’s Jose Van Haastert thought after seeing what a crypto billionaire paid for a piece of conceptual art with a banana on the wall. Her family talked about the massive price tag for the art over Christmas. But the idea got Van Haastert,

Read More

Image
News

New scholarship program at Great Lakes created in honour of late Sarnia judge

February 7, 2025

Students in St. Clair Township and Sarnia will be able to apply for a new scholarship program, named in honour of an Ontario Court Justice from Sarnia. The Sarnia Community Foundation says the family of the late Anne McFadyen has set up an annual scholarship program, similar to LCCVI’s Nicol Scholarships. It will honour five graduating students from Great Lakes

Read More

Front Page

Driver taken to hospital after Inwood accident

February 7, 2025

An Alvinston woman had to be taken to hospital after an accident near Inwood Monday. Lambton OPP have yet to release any details about the crash Monday morning which occurred during foggy conditions. Witnesses say two vehicles, a van and large pickup truck, collided at the corner of Inwood and Shiloh Line Monday morning. The van was T-boned. Brooke-Alvinston Fire

Read More

Image
Sports

LCCVI on top of girls high school hockey standings

February 7, 2025

LCCVI moved into a first place tie with Chatham-Kent Secondary School in girls’ high school hockey this week with a 2-1 win over the Golden Hawks in Chatham. The Lancers are 2-0-2 in the south division this season. The regular season wraps up late next week. Playoff dates have yet to be announced.

Read More