COVID-19: No need to be ‘alarmist,’ says B.C. doc, after suggestions cases under-reported

A doctor in Surrey says not to be “alarmist” about COVID in B.C. this fall, as long as we take precautions.

Dr. Madhu Jawanda isn’t overly concerned about a report from an independent modelling group suggesting case counts are being under-reported.

“Of course, the cases are under-reported. People are doing COVID tests at home, or they’re not even testing if they feel they have the symptoms. Now, we have the common sense that ‘we’re going to stay at home, take care of ourselves, and not infect people.'”

The BC COVID-19 Modelling Group suggests underreporting of cases in B.C. is about ~100 fold.

Noting she does not want to minimize the impact of COVID, Jawanda says with most Canadians vaccinated against the illness, we have come a long way from the early days of the pandemic.

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“I think the best is not to create an alarmist theory, but to be aware of what to do if you have it, to be aware of the symptoms. Get your vaccines when they’re due,” she said, adding public health authorities need to stay on top of things.

“If there is a variant that comes that is more sinister, then we will have to pivot and adjust, accordingly.”

With files from OMNI News