Earlier this week, the World Health Organization warned that COVID-19 infections have been surging lately, with new waves rolling across the Americas, Europe and the western Pacific.
In Canada, cases are also on the rise, says Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist based out of Toronto General Hospital.
"We don't have the same methods or degree to detect it as we once did," Bogoch said. "But some of the metrics that we do have are showing that there certainly is more COVID around now than there was a couple of weeks ago."
With COVID-19 case tracking not as easily available, how can Canadians gauge the situation for themselves?
Wastewater surveillance is one way to see how the virus is spreading in certain regions, Bogoch said.
The Public Health Agency of Canada has wastewater data on viral activity for not only COVID-19, but flu and RSV as well. Currently, the viral activity level for COVID-19 in Canada is "moderate," according to the site, with levels particularly high in Nova Scotia, Vancouver and Toronto.
Individual provinces have wastewater tracking for different cities – British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec, for example.
Ontario's wastewater surveillance is no longer being updated, though the site points to a respiratory virus tool that tracks information like outbreaks, test positivity and deaths for COVID-19, influenza and RSV.
The latest weekly summary in Ontario indicates a "moderate" percent positivity for COVID-19.
In late 2021, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 quickly spread, becoming the dominant variant across the world.
Bogoch said we're still in the "Omicron era," but that the current sub-lineage KP.3 is less impactful than those first waves that overwhelmed health-care systems.
"It doesn't appear that there's going to be any surprises with this particular sub-lineage of Omicron based on the data we've seen to date," Bogoch said. "So if people want to know what this is going to be like, look at the last couple of waves and it'll probably look very similar to that."
With the majority of Canadians vaccinated for COVID-19, as well as having been previously infected and recovered from the virus, the effects of a wave shouldn't be close to the same as they once were.
"You still have to respect this virus and it still packs a punch, especially with people who have risk factors for severe illness," Bogoch said. "But it's not impacting Canada or our health-care system to nearly the same extent as it once did."
Public health mandates are a thing of the past, but Bogoch said the same strategies – choosing to put on a mask indoors, for example – still apply for anyone wanting to reduce their risk of infection.
"We haven't been living in an era of mandates for quite a long time, but the same precautionary measures will work," Bogoch said.
With any respiratory illness, Bogoch said staying home from work, if someone has the ability to do so, and putting on a mask while around others will reduce the spread of that infection.
"Regardless of what people are sick with – be it influenza, RSV, COVID, the common cold – regardless of what they're sick with, you don't want to get others sick," Bogoch said. "It's best to be able to stay home and not get anyone else ill."
Bogoch said there are always going to be differences, as well as similarities, between COVID-19, influenza and RSV in terms of treatments and transmission.
But COVID-19 being grouped with those other illnesses is something we did not see during the height of the pandemic, Bogoch said.
"I think if we take a step back and look at the 30,000-foot view right now, COVID is currently being treated very similar to other upper respiratory tract infections, whereas two-plus years ago, it was treated very differently," he said.
Air Canada's potential work stoppage could ground flights, halt cargo and leave travellers scrambling to reschedule next week.
In a move to safeguard public heath, Health Canada has officially banned the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) as a food additive. Here's what you need to know.
Today is expected to mark the end of the criminal trial for two prominent organizers of the 'Freedom Convoy' protest, more than one year after the proceedings began.
A 56-year-old Canadian woman died after being caught in a sudden snowstorm in Italy’s Dolomite mountains and her companion was being treated for severe hypothermia, Italy’s Alpine Rescue Corps said Friday.
The family of a Sikh man from Brampton is seeking an apology, an explanation, and a promise to do better from the local hospital network after they say the facial hair of their loved one was removed without their consent.
The Canadian government says it will donate up to 200,000 vaccine doses to fight the mpox outbreak in Congo and other African countries.
Stephen Peat, the former Washington Capitals enforcer who fought concussion issues and was homeless at times after leaving hockey, has died from injuries sustained late last month when he was struck by a car while crossing a street. He was 44.
A problematic airline passenger has been hit with an unusual form of punishment – he has to pay back the airline for the cost of fuel.
It was the loud construction and series of Amazon packages that tipped off a group of tenants living at a rental building in New Westminster, B.C.
Air Canada's potential work stoppage could ground flights, halt cargo and leave travellers scrambling to reschedule next week.
A 20-year-old man arrested in Quebec last week over an alleged Islamic State terror plot to kill Jews in New York City is expected to appear in court in Montreal.
A British Columbia Realtor has been fined thousands of dollars after a property listing was found to contain photos that were digitally altered to hide peeling paint and show furnishings that did not exist.
As Saskatchewan is facing a shortage of veterinarians, owners of exotic pets are in a particularly tricky situation if their animal needs care.
It was the loud construction and series of Amazon packages that tipped off a group of tenants living at a rental building in New Westminster, B.C.
British Columbia's premier says the province will end the consumer carbon tax if the federal government removes the legal requirement to have one.
A 56-year-old Canadian woman died after being caught in a sudden snowstorm in Italy’s Dolomite mountains and her companion was being treated for severe hypothermia, Italy’s Alpine Rescue Corps said Friday.
The Russian authorities accused six British diplomats of spying and said they would be expelled, as tensions between Moscow and the West grow during an intensified push by Ukraine to loosen restrictions on using weapons provided by the U.S. and Britain to strike Russia.
Two men have been charged with burglary over the theft of an artwork by street artist Banksy that was taken in a smash-and-grab raid on a London gallery.
A Turkish court on Friday jailed pending trial the mother and brother of a murdered eight-year-old girl whose body was found in a sack hidden under rocks in a case that horrified the nation and triggered protests since her disappearance three weeks ago.
Italian Navy divers have recovered video surveillance equipment from the superyacht that sank off Sicily last month, killing British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and six other people, a source close to the matter said on Friday.
North Korea offered a rare glimpse into a secretive facility to produce weapons-grade uranium as state media reported Friday that leader Kim Jong Un visited the area and called for stronger efforts to 'exponentially' increase its number of nuclear weapons.
Provincial leaders across Canada are taking turns criticizing the federal Liberal government's proposal to alleviate immigration pressure on Quebec and Ontario by resettling asylum seekers more equitably across the country.
Today is expected to mark the end of the criminal trial for two prominent organizers of the 'Freedom Convoy' protest, more than one year after the proceedings began.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his team is focused on restoring Canadians' 'hope' but when it comes to the new minority dynamics in Parliament, 'all bets are off.'
In a move to safeguard public heath, Health Canada has officially banned the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) as a food additive. Here's what you need to know.
Air Canada's potential work stoppage could ground flights, halt cargo and leave travellers scrambling to reschedule next week.
An Ottawa resident who died of a viral encephalitis this summer tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus eastern equine encephalitis (EEEV), the first human case of the virus in Ottawa.
At 700 kilometres above Earth, Thursday’s historic SpaceX spacewalk took place higher than any previous NASA spacewalk, and featured cutting-edge technology.
Teenagers who lived 25,000 years ago likely experienced the same stages of puberty as modern adolescents, and on a similar timeline, according to a new joint study.
They have a propensity to proliferate and a fondness for grapes, and while the distinctive red and white-spotted lanternfly may look beautiful, officials are urging vigilance as the invasive species tracks north.
Nelly Furtado will give Sarah McLachlan her laurels at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony later this month.
The Toronto Film Festival says it has been forced to pause the screenings of a documentary about Russian soldiers this weekend, citing 'significant threats to festival operations and public safety.'
Chad McQueen, an actor known for his performances in the 'Karate Kid' movies and the son of the late actor and race car driver Steve McQueen, has died. He was 63.
Air Canada says some operations will start to be affected today as time is running out before a potential shutdown because of a labour dispute with its pilots
A group of workers at a Mississauga, Ont. Walmart warehouse has become the first in Canada to unionize at one of the company’s warehouses.
Canada Bread is accusing Maple Leaf Foods of using it as a 'shield' to avoid liability in the alleged bread price-fixing scheme that's the subject of two class-action lawsuits and an ongoing Competition Bureau investigation.
A problematic airline passenger has been hit with an unusual form of punishment – he has to pay back the airline for the cost of fuel.
A Waterloo, Ont. man diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer continues to beat all odds.
As Canadians cope with rising costs in all corners of their lives, experts say kids' athletic programs are no exception, making it more difficult for families to keep their children active at an affordable price.
Stephen Peat, the former Washington Capitals enforcer who fought concussion issues and was homeless at times after leaving hockey, has died from injuries sustained late last month when he was struck by a car while crossing a street. He was 44.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained a concussion for the third time in his NFL career, leaving his team's game Thursday night against Buffalo after running into defensive back Damar Hamlin and hitting the back of his head against the turf.
An emotional Jordan Chiles opened up Wednesday about how the controversy surrounding her bronze medal in the women's artistic floor exercise at the 2024 Paris Games affected her, saying the process took away "the person I am."
Hyundai and General Motors have agreed to look for ways to work together on developing new vehicles, supply chains and technologies in an effort to cut costs and move more quickly.
Halton Regional Police say they have disrupted a group believed to be responsible for the theft of at least 40 vehicles in Halton Region and the Greater Toronto Area worth over $3 million.
Nearly two-dozen drivers were caught in a speed trap outside a Vancouver elementary school on Thursday – as students were settling back into their daily routines.
Abandoned homes line the streets of Lauder, a town that's now a ghost of what it once was. Yet inside, a small community is thriving.
Perhaps Saskatchewan's most famous encounter with Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP/UFO) – "The Langenburg Event" is now being immortalized in the form of a collector's coin.
It's been 420 days since 22-year-old Abbey Bickell was killed in a car crash in Burnaby, a stretch full of heartbreak for her family as they not only grieved her death, but anxiously waited for progress in the police investigation. Wednesday, they finally got some good news.
A Simcoe, Ont. woman has been charged with assault with a weapon after spraying her neighbour with a water gun.
The dream of a life on water has drowned in a sea of sadness for a group of Chatham-Kent, Ont. residents who paid a Wallaceburg-based company for a floating home they never received.
In 2022, Tanya Frisk-Welburn and her husband bought what they hoped would be a dream home in Mexico.
Mansour’s Menswear in Amherst, N.S., is celebrating its 100th anniversary this month
A beautiful Labour Day weekend at the lake was interrupted by some extreme weather when a tornado touched down in northern Ontario.
Charred stumps and the remains of fire-ravaged trees still cover large tracts of land on the Jasper landscape, but life is returning quickly down below.
Stephen Peat, the former Washington Capitals enforcer who fought concussion issues and was homeless at times after leaving hockey, has died from injuries sustained late last month when he was struck by a car while crossing a street. He was 44.
Ten hotels in B.C. have been awarded Michelin keys, a designation that is the equivalent of a restaurant being honoured with a star by the prestigious guide.
Sixty-seven-year-old Annie Kong was a devoted grandmother who started every day with a video chat with her daughter and two young granddaughters.
An 18-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious injuries following a shooting in North York late Thursday night.
A group of workers at a Mississauga, Ont. Walmart warehouse has become the first in Canada to unionize at one of the company’s warehouses.
Two people were seriously injured after a vehicle rolled over and caught fire outside Humber River Hospital late Thursday night.
A first-of-its-kind scholarship is being created to honour a University of Calgary computer science student who was killed last September.
There's more good news from the City of Calgary after it released an updated schedule for repairs as residents and businesses used a lot less water on Thursday, data indicates.
Lethbridge police say a 28-year-old man is facing charges of attempted murder following a frightening attack on a woman inside her home this week.
A man is dead following a late night stabbing in Ottawa’s ByWard Market, according to the Ottawa Police Service.
A man was found with non-life-threatening wounds in the early hours of Friday morning on Bank Street in Centretown, according to the Ottawa Police Service.
Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a "threatening message" that was directed towards a school in Kemptville.
A 20-year-old man arrested in Quebec last week over an alleged Islamic State terror plot to kill Jews in New York City is expected to appear in court in Montreal.
A motion declaring that Quebecers are not required to present certificates of eligibility to receive health care in English was unanimously adopted by the National Assembly on Thursday.
The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine will be offered free of charge to certain priority groups this fall, the Quebec government announced Friday.
An Alberta town has laid out rules for how residents must treat municipal staff and the consequences if they step out of line.
Today is expected to mark the end of the criminal trial for two prominent organizers of the 'Freedom Convoy' protest, more than one year after the proceedings began.
Provincial leaders across Canada are taking turns criticizing the federal Liberal government's proposal to alleviate immigration pressure on Quebec and Ontario by resettling asylum seekers more equitably across the country.
N.S. RCMP to hold news conference on woman’s suspicious disappearance
The price of gas dropped across the Maritimes overnight, while there was no change in the price of diesel on Prince Edward Island.
The assistant commissioner for the New Brunswick RCMP released a statement Thursday evening in regards to a police shooting over the weekend that resulted in the death of a man from Elsipogtog First Nation.
A motor vehicle crash has closed a section of Portage Avenue Friday morning.
An advocacy group says the Manitoba government has spent nearly a third of a million dollars on electric vehicle (EV) chargers in the past two years – but hasn’t tracked if the chargers are actually being used.
Amid a struggle to attract new growth to rural Manitoba, some communities are finding creative ways to sell Manitobans on small-town living.
As Saskatchewan is facing a shortage of veterinarians, owners of exotic pets are in a particularly tricky situation if their animal needs care.
Today is expected to mark the end of the criminal trial for two prominent organizers of the 'Freedom Convoy' protest, more than one year after the proceedings began.
After 14 years of research and planning, a movie has been made telling the true stories of Canadian soldiers who fought in the war of Afghanistan.
More than 100 noise complaints were made about a recent late night event at Riverside Park in Cambridge, leading one councillor to question why it was approved in the first place.
The family of a woman killed by her husband, who then caused an explosion at their Kitchener, Ont. home, say they want to know when he’s out in the community.
A Waterloo, Ont. man diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer continues to beat all odds.
The Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) is asking its board to green light 31 new full-time positions, after the province committed to permanently fund a host of new officers last week.
The proposed downtown location for the city’s newest homeless shelter is drawing criticism from the chief of the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC), which runs the city’s largest emergency shelter.
Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) is investigating after a person was found dead following a fire early Thursday morning.
The Township of Nairn and Hyman, as well as the Township of Baldwin, hosted a town hall meeting Wednesday night to discuss the transportation of radioactive material through the area.
A problematic airline passenger has been hit with an unusual form of punishment – he has to pay back the airline for the cost of fuel.
Two people are dead and a third suffered life-threatening injuries following an attack at an encampment in Kingston, Ont., Thursday. A suspect has been arrested following a multi-hour standoff.
Celebrating a company that helped put London on a new economic path.
A funding request coming down the pipe from Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) to the ministry of education hopes to build four new schools, and expand one in the coming years.
A pedestrian is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after a violent two car crash near the Western University gates on Richmond Street north early Thursday morning.
Veterinarians in Simcoe County are offering several low-cost rabies vaccination clinics to help pet owners protect their dogs and cats from rabies.
It's one of Meaford's crown jewels and now has a new name in honour of one of Canada's most celebrated soldiers.
A R.I.D.E. stop netted police an impaired-by-drugs driver.
Using his strong mayor powers, Dilkens said the move is in anticipation of significant budget pressures in preparation of the 2025 City of Windsor budget.
Leamington OPP have charged two people after an officer saw a suspicious vehicle idling.
A traffic stop has led to the seizure of drugs in Colchester, according to Essex OPP.
Stephen Peat, the former Washington Capitals enforcer who fought concussion issues and was homeless at times after leaving hockey, has died from injuries sustained late last month when he was struck by a car while crossing a street. He was 44.
Ten hotels in B.C. have been awarded Michelin keys, a designation that is the equivalent of a restaurant being honoured with a star by the prestigious guide.
British Columbia's premier says the province will end the consumer carbon tax if the federal government removes the legal requirement to have one.
A woman suffered life-threatening injuries after being stabbed during a home invasion in Kelowna, according to authorities.
A 12-year-old collie was killed by three pit bulls in the B.C. Interior Sunday morning, according to authorities.
Mounties in northwestern B.C. say they have arrested the suspect in a fatal shooting almost exactly a year after it occurred.
Lethbridge police say a 28-year-old man is facing charges of attempted murder following a frightening attack on a woman inside her home this week.
A police operation in near Vauxhall, Alta. has ended.
A man is in police custody with charges pending in relation to a break-in and violent assault of a woman earlier this week.
One person remains in custody and officials are searching for an aggressive dog that was subdued with a stun gun, Sault police said Thursday evening.
A visual history of the Town of Thessalon is taking shape, thanks to a mural being painted on the municipal officer created by a Sudbury artist Monique Legault.
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service say one person has been taken into custody following an incident on Sussex Road in the city.
Newfoundland and Labrador's chief medical officer is monitoring the rise of whooping cough infections across the province as cases of the highly contagious disease continue to grow across Canada.
A 16-year-old biennial event aimed at fostering business in the country's eastern Arctic and northern regions has been cancelled indefinitely as a dispute unfolds between Inuit in Canada and a Labrador group claiming to share their heritage.
Jim Lester’s farm hopped on the cow-cuddling trend in early August, and his time slots have been pretty well sold out ever since.
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
