More than 17 million Canadians have contracted COVID-19 in five months

According to a recent data analysis, the arrival of the Omicron variant in Canada has created a veritable tsunami of COVID-19 infections, with more than 17 million Canadians contracting the virus in just five months.

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About 7% of Canadians had antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 before the arrival of Omicron, a 45% increase between December 2021 and May 2022, according to an analysis of studies funded by the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (TICG).

So an average of over 100,000 infections per day over this five month period.

“Since then new sublines of Omicron have continued to spread, and the percentage of Canadians who have acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection may now exceed 50%,” said Dr.^R Tim Evans, GTIC Managing Director.

As of the last week of May, 65% of Canadians under the age of 25 had antibodies, with 57% of 25-39-year-olds and 51% of 40-year-olds most infected with the virus. 31% for those aged 59 and over 60.

“With the number of infections, Omicron variation has had devastating effects on services and disrupted lives, as well as hospitalizations and deaths. It is clear that this has not spared healthy young Canadians,” said GTIC Co-Chair Dr.^D Catherine Hankins.

“Millions of Canadians now have hybrid immunity as a result of a combination of Covid-19 vaccines and the pandemic. Unfortunately, new evidence suggests that many of these individuals are at risk of re-infection with viruses of omicron variant lineage,” said Dr.^R David Naylor, co-chairman of GTIC.