Tag: cases

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Alberta, Calgary see rise in COVID-19 cases as large events return

Alberta, Calgary see rise in COVID-19 cases as large events return


The lack of restrictions and return of large events could be behind Alberta’s latest rise in COVID-19 cases, according to a Calgary developmental biologist.


“One could map it even when you have regions with a lot of festivals, a lot of large gatherings, then the spread might be bigger,” said Gosia Gasperowicz, developmental biologist and researcher at the University of Calgary.


“For example, with Stampede, it’s not only people being at Stampede but all the parties and especially indoor parties that people have after.”


The latest COVID-19 numbers as of July 18 show the test positivity rate increasing across the province — even more so in Calgary.


Hospitalizations in Alberta are also rising.


Gasperowicz said COVID might not turn out to be a seasonal virus, like the flu, that spikes in the winter.


“That’s not what we could have predicted by seeing how it’s evolving, so we can in the future, we can see those waves of new variants several times a year,” she told CTV News.


MIXED THOUGHTS ON COVID RISK


While life continues to look more like it used to before COVID-19, some Calgarians are still worried about their risk of getting infected.


“It’s still something that’s a concern for us. That’s why we’re still wearing our masks, even if we’re outside,” Gabriel Gana said.


Dino Gana agreed, adding, “even with Stampede, there’s a lot of people outside, so I guess COVID could rise. I know some people that just got it.”


Others like Katerina Palova believe the risk is low.


“I have three vaccines, three shots, and I think the precautions are pretty good here. I think people are kind of careful as well and whoever has symptoms stays at home,” she said.


With the pandemic entering the seventh wave, some people are choosing to put their masks back on and get another booster shot — two things Gasperowicz recommends.  

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Macau confirms 31 positive cases of COVID-19 as events, offices shut down

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Macau’s Novel Coronavirus Infection Response Coordination Center confirmed late Sunday that 31 people had tested positive to COVID-19, representing the SAR’s first major outbreak since the start of the pandemic almost two-and-a-half years ago.

Among the confirmed cases are 21 females and 10 males ranging in age from eight months to 89 years. Eight of the 31 are symptomatic confirmed cases with 23 asymptomatic at this stage. In their epidemiological investigations, authorities have followed up a total of 602 people, including what they describe as “146 close contacts, 375 non-core close contacts (people with common trails), 36 secondary close contacts, 10 general contacts and four accompanying persons.”

The detection of the 31 cases comes after the Health Bureau initially announced 12 positive cases of COVID-19 in the Macau community, with Kiang Wu Hospital reporting at 6pm on Saturday evening (18 June) the detection of a positive test result in a “10 mixed into one” nucleic acid test. One of the patients was later confirmed to be positive.

The government immediately checked the place of residence and work of the confirmed patient, and found that “at least 10” people were confirmed positive in the building where the patient lives.

This led to the declaration of an “immediate state of prevention” with all government events to be suspended or cancelled and all sports facilities to be shut down. The government also announced the closure of most of its offices today and tomorrow (Monday and Tuesday).

At a press conference on Sunday morning outlining some restrictions, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ao Ieong U, said, “In addition to supermarkets and so on, I hope that some venues will close down, and casinos can also take the same measures, but for the time being, there will not be any instructions, and I hope that enterprises will voluntarily comply and reduce the movement of people in the community.

“I hope people will stay at home, and I hope restaurants will suspend the supply of dining-in food.”

All departures from Macau are now required to present a negative NAT report from a test conducted within the past 24 hours.

The Macau government also announced that all Macau residents will be required to undergo a NAT test between 12 noon on Sunday 19 June and 12 noon on Tuesday 21 June.

The number of confirmed cases was updated to 21 on Sunday afternoon and then 31 on Sunday evening, with more likely to follow.

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Even as COVID cases rise, large events like graduations, concerts move forward

Even as COVID cases rise, large events like graduations, concerts move forward

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – COVID cases are rising once again, but there are no government mandates on the horizon, even as more and more gatherings are happening toward the summer months.

“We’re not instituting any more measures,” said Amanda Johnson, general manager of Blue Note Hawaii. “It really is up to people if they want to wear a mask while they’re here. We understand.”

Blue Note Hawaii reopened in November of last year with performers behind plexiglass shields and with limited capacity. Those restrictions are gone, and masks are no longer required to attend an event or work there.

That’s not changing, even as COVID hospitalizations are also rising.

“If we get up to 100 patients in hospitals, that will start to cause us some concern,” Hilton Raethel, the head of the Hawaii Healthcare Association, said six days ago.

We’re getting very close. The association says hospitalizations due to COVID jumped from 68 last week Friday, to 93 on Monday. There were 91 hospitalizations on Wednesday.

Being vaccinated twice isn’t enough.

“With the new variants that we’re seeing, if you’ve only had two shots, you are at risk upwards of 70% of being hospitalized, and you could have very severe consequences,” said Dr. Scott Miscovich of Premier Medical Group.

High school graduations are also around the corner, and the Department of Education is leaving most of the decision-making up to each school.

“Schools have a flexibility to determine event specific details to maintain the health and safety of all attendees,” said Interim School Superintendent Keith Hayashi.

With no Aloha Stadium, Mililani High School’s seniors will have their commencement at the Stan Sheriff Center on the UH Manoa campus on Monday. Each graduate will be allowed eight guests.

Several other high schools that had used Aloha Stadium are also moving to the Stan Sheriff. And since its indoors, masks will be required by the DOE.

Another large gathering is planned Saturday morning, with a Christians United In Prayer event at the State Capitol. Organizers are expecting 500 people for the outdoor event, with no restrictions.

“Everything is by faith, so we just trust in God that everything that we do is by faith” said Event Coordinator Sandra Tilo Ulu.

Miscovich said it’s not just the gatherings. Those rising visitor numbers are also a factor in the latest surge, especially with masks optional on planes.

“The variants are coming here sooner, and the infectivity of different variants coming and spreading is sooner, likely because we’re such a melting pot with people coming from each direction,” he said.

Miscovich said he and other health experts believe the latest surge will last another six to eight weeks.

Copyright 2022 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

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10 cases of serious adverse events reported in children aged 5 to 11 after COVID-19 vaccine jab: HSA

10 cases of serious adverse events reported in children aged 5 to 11 after COVID-19 vaccine jab: HSA

BOOSTER DOSES

Since the booster programme was rolled out on Sep 15, a total of 3,194,494 have received these jabs as of Jan 31, said HSA.

In this category, there were 553 adverse events reports (0.03 per cent of doses administered) associated with the use of the PfizerBioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine and 289 such reports (0.03 per cent of doses administered) with the Moderna/Spikevax vaccine.

There were also 73 serious adverse event reports (0.002 per cent of administered doses), of which 15 cases were myocarditis and pericarditis – inflammation of the heart muscles and outer lining of the heart respectively.

ADVERSE EVENTS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

HSA said that it is closely monitoring several adverse events of special interest, including anaphylaxis, myocarditis, pericarditis and cerebral venous thrombosis.

So far, the incidence rate of anaphylaxis reported locally with the vaccines has remained “low and stable” at about 0.89 per 100,000 doses administered, said HSA.

Of the 88 cases of anaphylaxis reported with the mRNA vaccines, all the patients recovered after medical treatment, said the authority.

It added that the number of cases of anaphylaxis associated with the second dose was lower than with the first dose of mRNA vaccines. To date, HSA has not received any cases of anaphylaxis associated with the booster dose.

For myocarditis and pericarditis, HSA said that it has as of end-January received 115 reports following the administration of mRNA vaccines. These cases happen more frequently in younger males below 30 years old, and more often with the second dose, said HSA.

One case of myocarditis with Sinovac-Coronavac vaccine has also been reported.

“Most cases are mild, with individuals reported to have recovered or are recovering,” said the authority.

“It should be noted that COVID-19 infection is also known to be associated with myocarditis,” HSA added.

There have been rare cases of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), or blood clots occurring in the veins of the brain, reported with the mRNA vaccines.

As of end-January, HSA has received 13 suspected reports of cerebral venous thrombosis with such vaccines.

“Vaccines are the best way to protect people from COVID-19 and have already saved many lives,” said HSA.

“HSA’s current assessment is that the overall benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty, Moderna/Spikevax and Sinovac-CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccines in preventing COVID-19 and serious complications associated with COVID-19 far outweigh any currently known adverse events,” it added.