There have been no significant changes over the past week to recently-reported trends. As shown in the composite chart, available data suggests only very marginal increases from the mid-May seasonal lows in most COVID statistics. Those are most pronounced in the Canada-wide wastewater viral testing results. Ontario PCR testing positivity results have been almost static these past several weeks, as have Ontario COVID hospitalization. ICU bed occupancy has actually dropped to its lowest level in almost two years.
The more independent statisticians at COVID-19 Resources Canada now appears to be updating their severity estimates only monthly, so have not changed their most recent estimate of one in every 118 Ontarians being currently infected and therefore infectious.
There has likewise been only marginal change in the current Canadian “market shares” of the most prevalent of the currently-circulating COVID variants. While NB.1.8.1 marginally remains the current dominant strain, its share continues to decline and now represents only 29% of new Canadian infections. What’s actually dominant is the two new and very closely related recombinant XFG and XFG.3 strains which are almost equal at 28% each. None of these strains have demonstrated more severe symptoms than their predecessors. In fact, the reverse may be true.