Woman found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017 matches identity of missing person in Switzerland
Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017.
New research suggests that the transmission of COVID-19 within a household could be more than 50 per cent and that children play a “important” role in its spread through the home.
The peer-reviewed study, published earlier this week in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, analyzed the transmission of COVID-19 in 180 homes in the Ottawa, Ont. area between September 2020 and October 2021, and found that after the first person in the home tested positive for COVID-19, 49.1 per cent of people in the same home would later test positive as well.
In all, 239 of the 487 people in the same household as someone with COVID-19 would later test positive for the virus.
Dr. Maala Bhatt, an associate professor of Pediatrics at the University of Ottawa and the study’s lead author, believes this study is a reminder that Canadians need to continue with the proper precautions.
“I know many want to ‘live with COVID’ and abandon the layers of protection that were previously mandated, but it’s important to be aware of the high transmissibility of this virus in closed, indoor settings, such as schools,” she said in a news release.
“Our most vulnerable and our youngest children who are not yet able to be vaccinated are still at risk for COVID infection.”
Maala also notes that this study was conducted before the emergence of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, meaning the transmission rate in the household is likely higher than this research shows.
“While we’re lucky hospitals aren’t currently overloaded, emergency departments are and positivity rates are on the rise, even amongst children,” Bhatt said.
“As significant COVID-19 transmission continues within households and throughout the community, it’s important to continue doing what you can to keep yourself and those around you safe – mask while indoors, wash your hands, get vaccinated with all the doses you are eligible for, stay home if you’re sick, and limit close contacts.”
While the study showed that adults were more likely to spread the virus to others in the home, the study stated that children were “were an important source of spread” and accounted for about a third of household transmission.
“The role of children in transmission warrants attention, since they are often asymptomatic or have mild symptoms,” the study noted.
“Addressing this gap in the literature would allow a more evidence-based approach to public health initiatives, given that COVID-19 pandemic control strategies have often affected the lives of children and youth, as well as negatively affecting their overall well-being.”
Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017.
As an excellent source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, daily fish oil supplements are a popular way to keep the risk of cardiovascular disease at bay.
The headquarters of the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C., was briefly evacuated on Wednesday morning after a suspicious package containing two vials of blood was delivered to the building, the police said.
A private island on Nova Scotia’s South Shore has been listed for sale with a $11.5-million USD price tag.
Cynthia Cardinal said she was 'overwhelmed' with happiness when she received a text message on Monday with the news that serial killer Robert Pickton, who murdered her sister, was attacked in prison. She called it 'karma.'
A Montreal photographer captured the moment a Canada goose defended itself from a fox at the Botanical Garden.
Interpol says more than 200 stolen Canadian vehicles have been found each week across the globe since February.
Canadians can expect a mixed bag of weather, with forecasts warning of thunderstorms, heavy rain and snow in some areas across western Canada.
A Tennessee judge on Wednesday blocked the auction of Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley, by a company that claimed his estate failed to repay a loan that used the property as collateral.
A city known for its history, ties to outer space and southern barbecue, is also home to a Winnipeg chef dishing out dozens of perogies.
A Montreal photographer captured the moment a Canada goose defended itself from a fox at the Botanical Garden.
Public libraries in Atlantic Canada are now lending a broader range of items.
Flashes of purple darting across the sky mixed with the serenading sound of songs will be noticed more with spring in full force in Manitoba.
Catching 'em all with impressive speed, a 7-year-old boy from Windsor, Ont. who only started his competitive Pokémon journey seven months ago has already levelled up to compete at a world championship level.
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
2b Theatre recently moved into the old Video Difference building, seeking to transform it into an artistic hub, meeting space, and temporary housing unit for visiting performers in Halifax.
A B.C. woman says her service dog pulled her from a lake moments before she had a seizure, saving her life.
A Starbucks fan — whose name is Winter — is visiting Canada on a purposeful journey that began with a random idea at one of the coffee chain's stores in Texas.