BA.2

Canadian hospitals and health systems are still struggling through the ebb and flow of COVID-19, leading to long delays for elective procedures, new data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information shows.

Hospitals across Canada are facing a resurgence of patients with COVID-19 that some health officials say will likely continue for another month.

"Because Omicron is so different, previous infection doesn't protect you," Saskatchewan's chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, said last week.

Canada's chief public health officer warned on Friday, April 1, 2022, that a COVID-19 resurgence is likely underway and encouraged Canadians to be vigilant to help curb the spread of the latest variant.

Quebec has already entered a sixth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic driven by the BA.2 subvariant, two experts said on Monday, March 28, 2022, although it's unclear how severe it will be and whether the rest of the country will follow.

Canada's top public health officials have suggested the country is unlikely to be caught up in the new wave of COVID-19 cases around the world, but could instead see a "blip" this spring.