KHSC Says 1 Omicron Hospitalization, Remaining Delta – Kingston | The Canadian News

Kington Health Sciences Center President and CEO Dr. David Pichora says COVID-19-related hospital admissions are trending down in the region as the presence of the Delta variant declines and is replaced by Omicron .

“Our numbers are down from where they were two or three weeks ago. So we have more ICU capacity. The emergency room has been calmer, ”Pichora said.

But while Omicron’s spread hasn’t prompted more hospital visits, it is spreading at a much faster rate.

“It is becoming obvious that people are spreading the virus while they are still incubating it,” Pichora said. “So even before they can have symptoms, they are already spreading it.”

The good news is, so far, the Omicron variant appears to be not that bad. Currently, only one of Kingston’s 26 hospitalizations is for the Omicron variant, which was found in an older person.

Queen’s epidemiologist Dr. Gerald Evans agrees with the idea that Omicron’s symptoms are not as strong as the previous variants, but is only cautiously optimistic because the variant has only primarily affected the 18 age group. at 29, which is less likely to become severe. ill.

Evans says that’s because that age group is more likely to lead a lifestyle that promotes the spread of germs.

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“When you are between 18 and 29 years old, it is when you socialize the most. That’s when you really have the most social contacts in your life, ”Evans said.

He adds that if the younger population is collecting and consuming alcohol, they are less likely to take precautions that would help stop the spread of the virus.

“People are taking off their masks, they’re using alcohol, and alcohol tends to make you worry a little less about, you know, worrying things. And everyone can help contribute to broadcast opportunities, ”he said.

The real test, he says, is a few days after the holidays, as the Omicron variant can be broadcast in a few days and could easily spread to holiday gatherings and eventually make its way into the older age categories.

“As we enter the holiday season, there are so many more opportunities for those young adults to potentially mingle with older relatives or older friends and so on,” Evans said. “And that could, unfortunately, help accelerate the movement of the virus to those older age groups. So that’s what we’ll have to watch out for. “

He says that the true effect of Omicron during the holidays could start to show sometime between Christmas and New Years.

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