Sudbury-based COVID-19 analyst offers perspective on Kashechewan COVID-19 crisis
A Sudbury-based biostatistician says the COVID-19 positivity rate for people in Kashechewan is "incredibly" high, and getting vaccines into arms is the only way to deal with the crisis.
Ryan Imgrund, who analyzes COVID-19 data for the Ontario and Canadian governments, said a positivity rate of three per cent is alarming. In Kashechewan, it's about three times higher than that.
"So it's really, really high and just not a situation you want to be in," Imgrund said.
In raw numbers, he said the case count in the First Nation amounts to around 280 weekly cases per 100,000 people. By comparison, the positivity rate in Ontario when we went into lockdown was 80 per 100,000 people.
That's why getting everyone in the community of 1,800 vaccinated as soon as possible is key to getting the situation under control.
"We need to make sure that it's easy for people to get vaccinated as well," Imgrund said. "Sometimes, just increasing numbers is not a good strategy if you don't have a proper communication with that, as well."
One of the major issues in Kashechewan is that many young people aren't vaccinated, he said, and they make up the majority of the new cases.
"And that's why it's so important to make sure that we are immunizing the whole population," Imgrund said. "Even if we immunize around 80 per cent of the adult population, the fact that we do miss the under-12 population, you know, is concerning."
That has implications for the whole area, since the Porcupine Health Unit has not been able to enter the gradual reopening process taking place across Ontario.
"The case count is just out of control right now," he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.