COVID updates

January 26, 2023

STATEMENT BY CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH, DR. MOORE

"Our Chief Medical Officer of Health Kieran Moore issued a statement yesterday asking Ontarians to remain vigilant as the Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 increases as a proportion of COVID-19 variants.

"He also noted that respiratory illness caused by the three major culprits - flu, RSV and COVID-19 - are down, and his statement was fairly upbeat.

"Statement from the Chief Medical Officer of Health | Ontario Newsroom

"You'll notice mention of the province's changed guidance on who can be PCR-tested. He urges all vulnerable and aged Ontarians who have even mild symptoms of COVID to seek PCR testing if their at-home rapid antigen test returns a negative result. In this way, should the PCR test be positive, these individuals will be eligible for the anti-viral Paxlovid.

"A positive rapid antigen test can be used to secure Paxlovid if you are eligible, but it is well known that rapid antigen tests often return false negative results."