Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Oct 03, 2026 2 hours, 19 minutes ago
COVID-19 infections and outbreaks are increasing in Canada, with older adults bearing the greatest burden, according to federal surveillance data updated on October 2, 2026. Although national activity remains low, the latest figures show rising test positivity and continuing outbreaks in long-term care facilities as Canada moves into its fall respiratory virus season.
COVID-19 cases are rising across Canada and the elderly are most at risk
The Public Health Agency of Canada reported 884 COVID-19 detections and 35 outbreaks during the week ending September 26. Older adults accounted for most detected infections with available age information, while long-term care facilities recorded the majority of weekly outbreaks. The figures highlighted in this
Thailand Medical News report come from the latest federal surveillance update released within the past 72 hours.
COVID-19 Positive Tests Climb
Reporting laboratories identified 884 COVID-19 detections from 23,399 tests, bringing the national test positivity rate to 3.8% for the latest reporting week. The federal report described positivity as very low but increasing.
COVID-19 recorded the highest positivity rate among the three major respiratory viruses covered in the national update, ahead of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV.
Since the current surveillance season began on August 30th, laboratories have reported 2,537 COVID-19 detections from 81,399 tests. Federal surveillance indicated that COVID-19 and influenza positivity had increased in recent weeks, although trends differed across regions.
The laboratory figures reflect infections identified through participating testing systems. Testing frequently involves hospital patients, emergency department patients, outbreak investigations, and people at higher risk of severe illness, leaving many community infections outside the reported totals.
Seniors Account for Most Detected Infections
Adults aged 65 and older represented 62% of the 851 weekly COVID-19 detections with available age information.
Older adults also recorded the highest hospitalization rate. Participating provinces and territories reported 166 COVID-19-associated hospitalizations during the week ending September 26, corresponding to an overall rate of 0.5 hospitalizations per 100,000 population.
Among hospitalization records containing age information, the weekly rate for adults aged 65 and older reached 2.6 per 100,000.
Since August 30th, participating jurisdictions have reported 514 COVID-19-associated hospitalizations. Federal surveillance described hospitalization activity as low but showing signs of increase, with the greatest reported weekly rate occurring among older adults.
Long-Term Care Facilities Face Most Outbreaks
Canada recorded 35 test-confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks in the latest reporting week, with 57% occurring in long-term care facilities. The federal report described outbreak numbers as low but increasing.
COVID-19 was associated with approximately 67% of the 52 laboratory-confirmed respiratory virus outbreaks reported by parti
cipating provinces and territories that week.
Since August 30th, the reporting jurisdictions have recorded 99 COVID-19 outbreaks. Long-term care facilities accounted for 51% of the seasonal total, followed by acute care facilities at 33%.
The latest figures place facilities caring for older and medically vulnerable residents at the center of Canada’s reported COVID-19 outbreak burden.
Sixteen Deaths Reported Since Season Began
Participating provinces and territories have reported 16 COVID-19-associated deaths since August 30th. All reported deaths involved adults aged 65 and older.
The same surveillance stream recorded five COVID-19-associated intensive care admissions during that period. No COVID-19-associated intensive care admissions were reported for the latest week.
Reporting coverage varies across jurisdictions, and severe outcome figures can change as additional records become available. The published totals represent outcomes submitted by participating provinces and territories.
Children Continue to Require Hospital Care
The separate SPRINT-KIDS pediatric surveillance network reported 13 COVID-19-associated hospitalizations and two intensive care admissions since August 30th.
No COVID-19-attributed pediatric deaths were reported through that network during the period. The pediatric figures come from participating children’s hospitals and form a separate surveillance stream from provincial and territorial severe outcome reporting.
Fall Surveillance Shows Early Increases
Canada enters October 2026 with COVID-19 activity rising and increasing positive tests and outbreaks that signal continued transmission. Older adults remain the most affected group in the reported infection, hospitalization, and death figures, while long-term care facilities continue to account for the largest share of outbreaks.
References:
https://health-infobase.canada.ca/respiratory-virus-surveillance/
https://health-infobase.canada.ca/respiratory-virus-surveillance/covid-19.html
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
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