Provincial data shows increase in flu, COVID cases across Ontario
Ontario and Canada-wide data indicate an early start to the respiratory virus season with rising cases of influenza and COVID-19. Health officials are monitoring the trend, which is currently most prevalent among individuals aged 65 and older.
Why it matters
Early increases in respiratory illnesses place additional strain on public healthcare systems and highlight the importance of seasonal vaccination campaigns.
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With fall's largely dry and cooler weather slowly creeping across Ontario, influenza and COVID-19 cases provincewide are starting to see a slight uptick, according to the Ontario Respiratory Virus Tool — an interactive online dashboard that tracks the province's respiratory virus activity.
Data for the week ending on Sept. 26 showed flu and COVID-19 cases had risen over the previous surveillance week, though respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases are down.
Ontario's interactive online database, which is updated weekly on Fridays, showed the province had recorded 202 cases of the flu, 192 COVID-19 cases and seven RSV cases.
Once Public Health Ontario gathers enough data, the website will begin offering projections of the 2026-27 respiratory pathogen season on Oct. 23.
Meanwhile, late-September data collected across Canada also indicated increased flu and COVID activity.
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