The emergence of the Omicron variant shows COVID-19 will continue to present challenges in the future, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says.
Trudeau’s comments come as the Omicron wave appears to be peaking in some provinces, while others are preparing for continued surges over the coming weeks. “Everyone hopes we’re going to be able to get back to all the things we love as quickly as possible, but as we saw with the Omicron wave, it is going to continue to present challenges over the coming times,” Trudeau said Wednesday during a COVID-19 update, alongside Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos. “We have to be ready to adjust (and) the one thing we are steadfast on as a government is we will be there to support Canadians with whatever it takes for as long as it takes.” Read more: Omicron COVID-19 variant is infectious for up to 10 days, Tam says Saskatchewan health officials are bracing for an influx of COVID-19 hospitalizations and workers’ absences until mid-February, while Alberta is seeing hospitalization rates rise to levels not seen since mid-October.
In Prince Edward Island, rising infections and hospitalizations have forced the government to limit gathering sizes and shut down gyms and indoor dining at restaurants until at least the end of January.
Meanwhile, in Ontario and Quebec, officials say the daily rate of hospitalizations appears to be decreasing slightly, although both health-care systems remain under severe strain.