Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Oct 19, 2026 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
COVID-19 infections are gradually increasing across Canada as the country enters its fall respiratory virus season, with surveillance data showing rising coronavirus activity in several provinces. Although severe outcomes remain relatively low, health authorities are closely monitoring infections, hospitalizations, and outbreaks, particularly among vulnerable older adults.
COVID-19 activity is gradually increasing across Canada as fall respiratory virus surveillance identifies rising
infections and regional differences in hospital admissions
According to Canada's FluWatch+ surveillance data for October 4–10, 2026, approximately 1,075 COVID-19 cases were detected nationally, compared with 1,149 influenza cases. COVID-19 test positivity is also increasing, although the country has not experienced the dramatic surges witnessed during earlier pandemic years.
British Columbia Reports Rising Infections and Hospital Admissions
British Columbia recorded COVID-19 test positivity of 8 percent, while wastewater surveillance indicated moderate-to-high viral activity at several monitoring locations.
Hospital admissions involving COVID-19 reached 8.0 per million residents, while critical care admissions stood at 0.4 per million. Deaths among individuals testing positive within 30 days reached 0.9 per million.
However, these figures include patients hospitalized for unrelated conditions. Provincial assessments indicate that approximately 32 percent of recent COVID-positive deaths had COVID-19 identified as the underlying cause.
Ontario and Quebec Show Continuing Viral Activity
Ontario reported 257 COVID-19 cases and 259 influenza cases during the surveillance period. Recent provincial updates showed COVID-related hospitalizations declining from 90 to 69, despite continuing infections.
Adults aged 75 and older experienced the highest hospitalization rates.
Quebec also reported gradually increasing COVID-19 activity, including outbreaks in long-term care facilities, although outbreak levels remained below those recorded during the corresponding period last year.
National Hospitalization Rates Remain Low
This
Thailand Medical News report highlights that Canada's combined respiratory viral hospitalization rate remained relatively low at 1.2 admissions per 100,000 residents.
Pediatric respiratory hospitalizations monitored through the SPRINT-KIDS network remained stable.
Importantly, national surveillance summaries did not provide separate COVID-19 hospitalization or mortality rates for week 40, limiting direct assessments of coronavirus-specific disease severity.
I
nfluenza Activity Adds to Seasonal Concerns
Influenza positivity crossed the 5 percent threshold associated with the potential beginning of Canada's influenza season.
Meanwhile, volunteer FluWatchers reported cough and fever symptoms among 1.6 percent of participants.<
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Health authorities continue recommending updated COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations, particularly for older adults and medically vulnerable populations.
Continued Surveillance Remains Essential
Although Canada's COVID-19 resurgence currently appears gradual, increasing viral circulation alongside influenza presents continuing risks for vulnerable populations. Wastewater monitoring, hospitalization trends, and outbreak surveillance will remain essential for identifying emerging changes, especially because reporting delays and inconsistent testing practices can obscure the true extent of infections.
References:
https://health-infobase.canada.ca/respiratory-virus-surveillance/
https://www.copdcanada.info/influenza-myths-and-facts/respiratory-virus-surveillance-reports/
https://reporting.bccdc.ca/respiratory_outcomes/
https://www.bccdc.ca/Health-Info-Site/Documents/Respiratory_data/respiratory_surveillance_2026-10-15.pdf
https://www.bccdc.ca/health-professionals/data-reports/respiratory-virus-data
https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/Data-and-Analysis/Infectious-Disease/Respiratory-Virus-Tool
https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/data-and-analysis/infectious-disease/covid-19-data-surveillance
https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/data-and-analysis/infectious-disease/covid-19-data-surveillance
https://www.inspq.qc.ca/covid-19/donnees
https://www.inspq.qc.ca/maladies-infectieuses-respiratoires/synthese-circulation-virus-respiratoires
https://health-infobase.canada.ca/respiratory-virus-surveillance/explore.html
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/flu-influenza/influenza-surveillance/weekly-influenza-reports.html
https://health-infobase.canada.ca/wastewater/
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/flu-influenza/influenza-surveillance/fluwatch-weeks-calendar.html
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