Home Health COVID-19 Natural immunity to COVID is weak, says Canada’s deputy chief PHO

Natural immunity to COVID is weak, says Canada’s deputy chief PHO

Effectiveness of a vaccine is key.

Dr Howard Njoo, Deputy Chief Public Health Officer for Canada
Dr Howard Njoo, Deputy Chief Public Health Officer for Canada [April 14, 2020 file photo]
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Tuesday July 14, 2020 ~ OTTAWA | NATIONAL

by Mary Brooke, B.Sc., Editor | West Shore Voice News

Natural immunity to the COVID-19 coronavirus in people who have experienced COVID-19 infection lasts only a few weeks or a few months, says Dr. Howard Njoo Deputy Chief Public Health Officer with the Public Health Agency of Canada.

That is the evidence so far, said Dr Njoo in a news briefing today July 14 in Ottawa.

Coronavirus, COVID-19
COVID-19 pandemic is expected to have socioeconomic impacts through to at least Fall 2021. A second wave is expected in Fall 2020.

Today Dr Njoo said that a vaccine won’t be available until at least 2021, and that effectiveness of a vaccine will of course be important.

So far, health officials have not indicated how a vaccine will be more effective than natural immunity.

Living the new mid-COVID normal:

In the meantime, everyone is living ‘the new normal’, with Dr Njoo reinforcing the message about “the three C’s” — avoiding close contact, avoiding closed spaces, and crowds.

three C's, COVID-19, spread
To minimize exposure or spread of COVID-19, avoid closed spaces, crowds, and close contact.

In BC, Provincial Health Office Dr Bonnie Henry has also been delivering the 3-Cs message in the last week or so.

Wearing a mask indoors:

The messaging about wearing a mask has evolved over the course of the pandemic so far. Dr Njoo feels that wearing a mask indoors when physical distancing of 2 metres cannot be maintained is what people now need to do to help prevent spread of the COVID-19 virus.

He notes that Quebec has now made it mandatory to wear a mask indoors. Last week the City of Toronto also made it obligatory to wear a mask indoors.

First wave comments:

Back on March 22 as the pandemic raged in its first wave, Dr Njoo was already saying that public health officials anticipate a possible second COVID-19 wave over the fall and winter.

As for communication about COVID-19: “As with all of us, open discussion helps children sort fact from fiction,” said Dr Njoo on April 14.

Governments both federal and provincial held daily briefings about COVID-19 in the first phase of the pandemic (from about February to early May), and lately have pulled back on frequency but ramped up on reminders.

OakTree Naturals, Langford, COVID-19 hours
OakTree Naturals is open 10 am to 5 pm (Monday to Saturday) during COVID-19.

===== About the writer:

Mary Brooke, editor, West Shore Voice News
Mary Brooke, Editor and Publisher, West Shore Voice News [file photo 2018]

Mary P Brooke, B.Sc. is the editor of West Shore Voice News. She has been following the news of COVID-19 non-stop since the start of the pandemic this year.