“Sewage surveillance seems to indicate that we have reached the peak, that we will begin to see the numbers dwindle,” Christine Eliot told a news conference on Thursday. In Ottawa, the sewage trend is also declining for the first time in weeks. “Signals from almost everywhere in the province have fallen or have fallen a little,” said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, epidemiologist. “Fantastic, it’s the right arrow pointing in the right direction, but of course we want to see it continue in that direction.” The update comes as the premiere encourages people to stay alert before rallies for the big weekend. “Be careful, if you have 15 people, wear your mask,” said Prime Minister Doug Ford. Some experts say cases and hospitals are expected to see a blow after the holidays. “Usually after the holidays we see an increase in cases, so I would say continue to wear these masks,” said Dr. Zahid Bat, an epidemiologist. “There is a gap between what you see in sewage surveillance and hospitalization.” Ontario’s top doctor does not impose masks because of his confidence in the ability to care for healthcare. “We are really at the highest point or very close to the highest point, which means there is more COVID-19 now than there was anywhere else during this wave,” said Dr. Bogoch. “You really have to wear a mask when you go indoors.” The chief health doctor Dr. Kieran Moore says he does not believe a legally binding mandate is necessary at this point, as he believes the healthcare system has the capacity to care for all residents.
