New Facts for a New Pandemic
With the majority of Covid-19 cases in Canada now being the variants of concern (VOCs), it is time to update what we know.
Here is the science as of today (Ontario, April 10, 2021):
Transmission
· Covid-19 is airborne: the virus can hang suspended in the air for hours and travel much further than 2m (6’), especially indoors in inadequately ventilated spaces* [1] [2]
· The virus can be spread to others from someone who is infected but not showing symptoms. This includes people who have not yet developed symptoms (pre-symptomatic) and those who never develop symptoms (asymptomatic)[3]
· The majority of Covid-19 cases in Canada are now the variants of concern, which are 1.2–2.2 times more contagious, and 60% more deadly[4] [5]
· The highest risk individuals for COVID-19 infection in Ontario are now young, healthy people 10–39,[6] [7] [8]
· A single dose of current approved vaccines provides protection against severe illness, but you are not fully protected until two weeks after your second dose; the level of protection may change as variants evolve[9]
· Cloth masks do not offer enough protection from Covid-19 indoors unless they are lined with polypropylene; KN95 masks or those with similar levels of filtration are recommended[10]
· Mask fit is crucial; even small gaps reduce your protection. Check your fit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoSb-HJJ5tk
· Outdoors is safer than indoors; transmission is greatly reduced (at least 19 times), but transmission can occur in close or crowded conditions and masking further reduces risk [11]
Seriousness of Illness
· Young healthy people with Covid-19 are deteriorating quickly at much higher rates[12]
· Brain disorders (neurological or psychiatric diagnosis)* affect 1 in 3 Covid-19 survivors [13]
· 1 in 4 people diagnosed with even mild cases Covid-19 report long Covid-19 symptoms months after recovering[14]
· The death toll of Covid-19 is likely much higher than official numbers as evidenced by the much higher than average expected deaths all over the world[15] [16]
Compiled April 10, 2021. Doctors and scientists, please send edits, corrections, or additions to citizenresearcher@urbannation.com
- Clarifications added April 11, 2021, thanks to those who made suggestions
RESOURCES (added April 23, 2021)
- Canada’s Federal COVID-19 Resource Page https://covid19resources.ca/
- Masks, efficacy and where to source them in Canada https://masks4canada.org/
- Updates on Data for every region in Canada http://COVID19Tracker.ca
- Vaccines, how to get one (in Canada): https://vaccinehunters.ca/
- Vaccines, questions answered: on zoom or phone-in options daily from 8–10pm EST https://covid19resources.ca/public/discussions/#VaccineQA
[2] https://nursesunions.ca/cfnu-research-summary-on-covid-19/ *
[4] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00502-w
[6] https://www.macleans.ca/news/younger-and-sicker-what-canadas-variant-driven-third-wave-looks-like
[8] https://covid-19.ontario.ca/ *
[9] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/22/one-vaccine-protection-severe-covid-evidence
[10] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/marketplace-masks-test-1.5795481
[11] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33307081/
[13] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366%2821%2900084-5/fulltext
[14] https://www.statista.com/chart/24561/uk-long-covid-breakdown/
