New variants of concern double the risk anyone catching COVID-19 could end up in a hospital intensive care unit.

So says the Ford government’s Science Advisory Table.

Co-chair Dr. Adalsteinn Brown and Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams both agree a stay-at-home order of at least two weeks, but preferably four, is needed to bring the third wave under control.

But even with a four-week stay-at-home order the experts say admissions to intensive care will likely top 800 this month.

That’s because the spread of variants is outpacing the vaccination campaign.

If ICU admissions were to reach that level, Dr. Brown says it is a ”definite possibility” physicians would need to begin implementing a triage protocol to help decide who gets lifesaving care and who does not.

”You will see loss of life,” he adds.