Ontario is reporting 96 more deaths linked to COVID-19 over the past seven days, making it the deadliest week of the seventh wave so far.The news comes a week after the Chief Medical Officer announced the BA5 variant has peaked after being officially declared in mid-June. The number of hospitalizations is down slightly but those in ICU increased a bit.

The highest reported number of cases was seen in those 80 and older, an age group that also has a much higher rate of hospitalizations and deaths compared to all others according Public Health Ontario.

Meanwhile, the CDC in the United States has dropped quarantine, and screening recommendations for COVID-19. Health officials also say Americans no longer need to stay at least six feet apart.

Moderna says its new m-R-N-A vaccine factory in the Montreal-area could be operational by the end of 2024. Construction will begin later this year. Moderna had announced in April that it would build a factory that would be able to produce 100-million doses of m-R-N-A vaccines a year. The facility is expected to produce vaccines not only against COVID but also targeting a variety of respiratory viruses including influenza.