'We can't abandon any precautions': B.C. physician on staying the course amid Omicron wave
As the highly-transmissible Omicron variant continues to fuel COVID-19 cases in the province, a B.C. physician is warning people to stay the course when it comes to restrictions set out by health officials.
CTV Morning Live spoke with family physician Dr. Rhonda Low Tuesday, who said it's more important now than ever to continue "aggressive" public health measures.
"Right now with where we are with COVID in the community, we can’t give up," she said. "Hopefully with time COVID might still be present but moved to the background in our community as we have vaccinations and better treatments."
Low said Health Canada's approval of the use of Pfizer's COVID-19 antiviral treatment Paxlovid, is also a step in the right direction.
"It's the first ever prescription at-home anti-COVID pill that can help fight this infection," she said.
"As we get better with vaccinations, treatments, and as more people get sick — with herd immunity — we can let things go a little bit more but right now we can't give up and we can't abandon any of those precautions."
Low said because Omicron is so easily transmissible, it can help with herd immunity.
"Experts like Dr. Fauci in the U.S. has predicted everyone will get some version of this coronavirus over time," she said.
"But before we get herd immunity, there's gonna be a fine balance between the number of people who are protected from either vaccination or prior infection, with new infections that are filling up our hospitals and threatening to overwhelm our health-care system."
Low said getting vaccinated remains the best form of protection against COVID, including the Omicron variant.
"We're really asking that folks get vaccinated," she said. "It's the safest way in our community to help speed us along a good path."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.