Canada sees emergence of dominant COVID-19 subvariants

Two new variants of the novel coronavirus have emerged as the dominant strains in Canada, over four years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The latest subvariants, dubbed KP.2 and KP.3, fall within the Omicron lineage, representing mutations originating from the COVID-19 virus. Their rapid proliferation has resulted in 49.2 per cent of COVID-19 cases in Canada being attributed to these strains as of May 19.

Regarding their impact on human health, Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist at Toronto General Hospital, suggests that while it’s premature to draw definitive conclusions, the virus’s effects are likely to vary from person to person.

In the initial months since the emergence of the subvariant, there’s no indication that Canadians or public health officials should be alarmed.

“The first Omicron wave was terrible, back in late 2021 and early 2022,” he said. “But subsequent Omicron waves have had fewer and fewer impacts on our health-care system and on our society.

“Of course, that’s not to minimize the significance of COVID. It’s terrible and certain populations are very much at risk,” he continued. “(Both federal and provincial) public health can do a lot of good by having clear, open, transparent conversations with the general public, just discussing what the current state of COVID-19 is.”

Mirroring the patterns observed in the pre-2020 years of COVID-19 and flu seasons, cases have remained relatively low during the spring and summer months, only to rise as autumn transitions into winter. Dr. Bogoch anticipates the National Advisory Committee on Immunization to issue guidelines in the fall, coinciding with the rollout of new COVID-19 vaccines alongside influenza vaccinations.

As Canadians gradually adjust to life beyond years of pandemic constraints, there’s a tempered optimism prevailing in a post-COVID world.