Canada is on the cusp of hitting its first national vaccination target, but chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says the Delta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 might mean the country has to up its vaccine game again.
Federal modelling done in April and May suggested that if 75 per cent of eligible Canadians -- those 12 years old and above -- had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 20 per cent had two, provinces could safely begin easing restrictions on public movement without overwhelming hospitals again.
Delta was first identified in India last fall, but was only designated a variant of concern by the World Health Organization in mid-May. Canada is set to reach part of the first target -- 75 per cent of eligible people having their first dose -- sometime in the next 24 hours, and 20 per cent with both doses likely by Sunday.
Quebec, which reported fewer than 200 cases for the ninth day in a row Tuesday, is now allowing small, indoor private gatherings everywhere, and allowing bars to open indoors at half capacity. Alberta, which is one of two provinces where at least 20 per cent of eligible people are fully vaccinated, opened indoor venues like movie theatres and libraries last week. It is the only province not yet above 70 per cent with first doses, but is almost there.
She said cautious, staged reopenings, which leave lots of room to monitor an increase in case counts and detect surges of variants like Delta, will be critical.
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