New national modelling suggests Canada could see a fourth wave.
A warning from Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam.
The country's latest COVID-19 modelling was released today, showing an increasing number of new infections.
The modelling suggests that Canada is at risk of entering a fourth wave due to the highly contagious Delta variant.
Tam is urging the unvaccinated to roll up their sleeves before it's too late.
"The updated longer-range forecast shows how the epidemic trajectory may evolve through early September. It suggests that we are at the start of the Delta-driven fourth wave, but that the trajectory will depend on ongoing increases in fully vaccinated coverage, and the timing, pace and extent of reopening."
The Public Health Agency of Canada is urging a cautious re-opening approach, saying if community-wide contact rates increase too quickly, Canada could see a stronger resurgence of the virus in the long-term.
To date, 80.5 percent of Canadians have their first shot, and about 65.8 percent are double dosed.
The data also suggests that in the short term, Canada could see between 2,700 and 11,800 new cases in the coming week.
However, the rate of new deaths isn't expected to increase along with the recent uptick in new cases.
About 89.7 percent of all cases are occurring in people who are eligible but unvaccinated, and 84.9 percent of those hospitalized aren't immunized.
Around 5.3 percent of cases are in those not eligible for vaccines, and 4.6 percent of infections are in those who are only partially vaccinated.
Health officials are particularly looking at the 18 to 39 age group as key to preventing a fourth wave.
About 70 percent of that group has received at least one shot, but Tam says she wants to see that number rise to 80 percent in order to prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.
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