New figures from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) show COVID-19 cases are climbing nationwide. In the latest weekly update, more than 1,600 cases were confirmed from nearly 19,000 tests, with percent positivity rising to 8.5%.
Health officials say the trend reflects increased virus circulation and lagging booster uptake as fall approaches.
PHAC is also monitoring early signals of flu and RSV activity, warning that overlapping respiratory illnesses could put added strain on hospitals in the coming months.
Canadians are being urged to stay up to date on vaccinations, practice good hand hygiene, and stay home if feeling unwell.
Meanwhile, a new Statistics Canada report highlights an increase in food insecurity. Nearly 1 in 5 Canadian households reported struggling to afford enough nutritious food in the past year, with experts warning that rising living costs are compounding health risks tied to poor diet and chronic illness.
Globally, the World Health Organization is pressing countries to accelerate action on chronic diseases and mental health. Ahead of this month’s UN summit in New York, leaders are expected to adopt a new declaration aimed at reducing preventable deaths from conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and depression.
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