6th wave of COVID-19 sees shift to individual responsibility, doctors say

Canada's top doctor says COVID-19 is seeing a resurgence across the country, representing a sixth wave. One expert in B.C. says this comes amid a transition away from public health orders to individual responsibility.

Canada's top doctor says COVID-19 is seeing a resurgence across the country, representing a sixth wave. 

Across the country, COVID cases and hospitalizations are up, which was expected as restrictions loosened and and an even more contagious Omicron sub-variant, BA2, was detected. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said that variant now represents 60 per cent of cases.

"I think it’s semantics as to whether you call it a sixth wave or not, but there is an increase being seen in most areas in Canada," she said in a press conference Tuesday.

Even with the rise, Tam said unless something drastic happens like more severe outcomes or evasion of vaccines, we likely won't see harsh restrictions return. She described the current state of the pandemic in Canada a "difficult period" of transition.

"Not only is the virus trying to find its way in the world and transitioning, we are transitioning from what I would hope is the acute crisis phase into the somewhat unknown, uncertain territory of virus evolution," Dr. Tam added.

She said while mask mandates take the guesswork out of decision-making, she thought most provincial health officers were moving toward making sure people employ the tools needed to be safe. However, she did say she still thought mask wearing was the most pr prudent personal choice at this time.

Dr. Brian Conway, the medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre said he also sees the transition away from public health orders to individual responsibility.