COVID-19, flu to peak over holiday season: Ontario's top doctor

TORONTO — Ontario's top doctor says there is "a lot" of COVID-19 circulating in the province right now, and levels of both that virus and influenza are on the rise.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore says it looks like both viruses are set to peak over the holiday season.

He says this is a key week for Ontarians to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and the flu because immunization takes about 10 to 14 days to take effect.

Moore says just 13 per cent of the eligible population has received the updated Omicron-targeted COVID-19 vaccine, and only 40 per cent of people 65 and older – he says the latter figure is making him particularly anxious because the virus hits those people hardest.

He says the rate of people getting COVID-19 vaccinations peaked three weeks ago.

Moore is not planning to implement any public health measures, saying he will continue with "risk communication."

The Canadian Press