June 26, 2021 | Ottawa, ON | Public Health Agency of Canada
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to create stress and anxiety for many Canadians, particularly those who do not have ready access to their regular support networks. Through the Wellness Together Canada online portal, people of all ages across the country can access immediate, free and confidential mental health and substance use supports, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The past year and a half has taught us a lot about preventing risks and protecting ourselves and others against COVID-19. As more and more Canadians are vaccinated, I know that people in Canada have questions about life after vaccination. While we need to continue following current public health measures, it's also important to look at our individual risk when going out-and there are new and updated resources and tools that can help.
More people getting vaccinated means fewer people getting sick or severely ill with COVID-19. High vaccination coverage across the population also makes it safer to ease restrictive measures. The new Life After Vaccination resources aim to help you make informed and confident decisions to enjoy a safer summer. This includes an easy to read infographic to help as you consider the risks of different activities based on personal and family health and vaccination status, the setting or activity and precautions to help to keep you safer. If you are at risk of more severe disease or outcomes, individual precautions such as masking, and physical distancing provide additional layers of protection that can further reduce your risk in all settings. Your risk is always lower when outside.
On June 22, Ryerson University's National Institute on Ageing launched the My COVID-19 Visit Risk Calculator, an individual risk assessment tool to help people in Canada make informed decisions about their personal risk for COVID-19. This user-friendly online tool provides reliable, science-based information to help you reduce your individual risk when visiting and gathering with others. When you use the tool, you'll anonymously answer questions about your age, health, and vaccination status, and the people you are visiting, along with the prevalence of COVID-19 in your community.
