Researchers with Canada’s COVID-19 Immunity Task Force who tested blood samples for both vaccine and infection antibodies estimate that more than half of Canadians have contracted the virus. “That’s 100,000 infections a day since January,” said Dr. Bruce Mazer, the deputy science director of strategy for the task force. “That’s over 17 million people, if you count who’s infected. That’s like half the population of Canada.” The analysis found that the increase in infection rates occurred in men, women and children in every province. Using blood donations made through Canadian Blood Services, the task force found that young adults had the highest levels of infection antibodies at 65%. The statistics declined in the older age groups. Mazer said this research is a reality check as the country moves into a phase of the pandemic where there is no government intervention and the most contagious version of the virus is circulating. “It’s not over … just by the fact that this is highly contagious, so many people have been affected, it’s hurting the economy based on the number of people who have to lose jobs, the number of people who have to miss school, the number of people who have to take leave for their children,” he said. “So the impact is still there.” The task force said that COVID-19 does not appear to have a seasonal pattern and Omicron is still spreading. The current variant is BA.5 which Mazer said is different enough from the original strain to reinfect. He said covering up and distancing is smart in dangerous settings and all Canadians should be up to date on COVID-19 vaccines Mazer said the task force will continue its work until at least the end of 2023. So far the group, which was formed by the federal government, has supported more than 100 studies.
