COVID-19 cases and deaths in health care workers in Canada — infographic

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As of January 14, 2022, there were 2,632,916† reported COVID-19 cases in Canada. Of those, 150,546‡ (5.8%) were health care workers. At least 46‡ health care workers had died from COVID-19 by that date. 

For each province and territory, as of January 14, 2022,* here are the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in health care workers, the percentage of the total cases that were health care workers and the number of cases in Canadian Armed Forces health care workers who provided emergency relief, where applicable:§

  • Newfoundland and Labrador: There were 992 COVID-19 cases in health care workers, which made up 8.2% of the total cases. There were no COVID-19–related health care worker deaths. 
  • Prince Edward Island: There were 2 COVID-19 cases in health care workers. The percentage of total cases that is made up of health care workers is not available. There were no COVID-19–related health care worker deaths.
  • Nova Scotia: There were 737 COVID-19 cases in health care workers, which made up 2.5% of the total cases. There were no COVID-19–related health care worker deaths.
  • New Brunswick: There were 227 COVID-19 cases in health care workers. The percentage of total cases that is made up of health care workers is not available. There were no COVID-19–related health care worker deaths.
  • Quebec: There were 71,847 COVID-19 cases in health care workers, which made up 9.1% of the total cases. There were 13 COVID-19–related health care worker deaths. There were 41 cases of COVID-19 in Canadian Armed Forces health care workers who provided emergency relief.
  • Ontario: There were 30,428 COVID-19 cases in health care workers, which made up 3.3% of the total cases. There were 17 COVID-19–related health care worker deaths. There were 14 cases of COVID-19 in Canadian Armed Forces health care workers who provided emergency relief.
  • Manitoba: There were 5,413 COVID-19 cases in health care workers, which made up 5.0% of the total cases. There were 5 COVID-19–related health care worker deaths. There were no cases of COVID-19 in Canadian Armed Forces health care workers who provided emergency relief.
  • Saskatchewan: There were 3,929 COVID-19 cases in health care workers, which made up 4.0% of the total cases. There was 1 COVID-19–related health care worker death. There were no cases of COVID-19 in Canadian Armed Forces health care workers who provided emergency relief.
  • Alberta: There were 26,011 COVID-19 cases in health care workers, which made up 6.0% of the total cases. There were 10 COVID-19–related health care worker deaths. There were no cases of COVID-19 in Canadian Armed Forces health care workers who provided emergency relief.
  • British Columbia: There were 10,960 COVID-19 cases in health care workers, which made up 5.4% of the total cases. Data on COVID-19–related health care worker deaths is not available.
  • Yukon: Data on the number of health care worker COVID-19 cases and deaths is not available. 
  • Northwest Territories: Data on the number of health care worker COVID-19 cases and deaths is not available.
  • Nunavut: There were fewer than 5 COVID-19 cases in health care workers and fewer than 5 COVID-19–related health care worker deaths. The percentage of total cases that is made up of health care workers is not available.

How have the numbers changed over the course of the pandemic?

Compared with the first 3 waves, the largest number of new cases in health care workers was reported between June 2021 and January 2022; however, health care workers continued to make up a small share of Canada’s total new cases:

  • Between January 15, 2020, and July 23, 2020, the total number of new COVID-19 cases in Canada was 112,672; of those, 21,842 were health care workers. This represented 19.4% of new cases during that period.
  • Between July 24, 2020, and January 15, 2021, the total number of new COVID-19 cases in Canada was 583,032; of those, 44,078 were health care workers. This represented 7.6% of new cases during that period.
  • Between January 16, 2021, and June 15, 2021, the total number of new COVID-19 cases in Canada was 704,705; of those, 28,953 were health care workers. This represented 4.1% of new cases during that period.
  • Between June 16, 2021, and January 14, 2022, the total number of new COVID-19 cases in Canada was 1,232,507; of those, 55,673 were health care workers. This represented 4.5% of new cases during that period.

Notes

* This data represents a snapshot as of January 14, 2022, for all provinces and territories (except Prince Edward Island, where the data obtained from the Government of Prince Edward Island is as of January 15, 2021; New Brunswick, where the data obtained from the Government of New Brunswick is as of June 15, 2021; Quebec, where the case data obtained from Statistics Canada is as of January 15, 2022, and the death data obtained from INESSS is as of July 27, 2020; Manitoba, where the data obtained from the Government of Manitoba is as of January 15, 2022; Alberta, where the data obtained from the Government of Alberta is as of January 13, 2022; British Columbia, where the data obtained from the BC Centre for Disease Control is as of October 28, 2021; and Nunavut, where the data obtained from the Government of Nunavut is as of June 15, 2021).
† Total number of cases of COVID-19 is as of January 14, 2022, for all provinces and territories except Quebec (January 15, 2022), Manitoba (January 15, 2022), Alberta (January 13, 2022) and British Columbia (October 28, 2021). The Canada total is the sum of provincial and territorial totals collected on those dates, plus 13 repatriated travellers.
‡ Excludes Nunavut.
§ Data includes COVID-19 cases in Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) health care workers who provided emergency relief in the provinces of Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Includes both regulated and unregulated personnel considered HCWs in the CAF. 
─ Data is not available.
Percentage of cases in health care workers is calculated based on the number of COVID-19 cases in health care workers divided by the total number of COVID-19 cases in the province or territory. The percentage of cases in health care workers in Canada excludes provinces/territories where the percentage of cases in health care workers was unavailable.
The comparability of the data reported for the provinces and territories is impacted by differences in their overall COVID-19 testing practices and in the specific collection and reporting of data on COVID-19 cases in health care workers. Changes in testing practices throughout the pandemic may lead to underestimates of the number of cases in health care workers.
Data for this analysis is primarily sourced from reports available on provincial and territorial public health agency or ministry of health websites or on Statistics Canada’s website. For jurisdictions where reports are unavailable, data that was obtained from other sources, including the media, was validated by the ministry in that province or territory.
See full notes and sources at the bottom of this web page.

Full notes and sources

Notes

* This data represents a snapshot as of January 14, 2022, for all provinces and territories (except Prince Edward Island, where the data obtained from the Government of Prince Edward Island is as of January 15, 2021; New Brunswick, where the data obtained from the Government of New Brunswick is as of June 15, 2021; Quebec, where the case data obtained from Statistics Canada is as of January 15, 2022, and the death data obtained from INESSS is as of July 27, 2020; Manitoba, where the data obtained from the Government of Manitoba is as of January 15, 2022; Alberta, where the data obtained from the Government of Alberta is as of January 13, 2022; British Columbia, where the data obtained from the BC Centre for Disease Control is as of October 28, 2021); and Nunavut, where the data obtained from the Government of Nunavut is as of June 15, 2021. 
† The total number of cases of COVID-19 is as of January 14, 2022, for all provinces and territories except Quebec (January 15, 2022), Manitoba (January 15, 2022), Alberta (January 13, 2022) and British Columbia (October 28, 2021). The Canada total is the sum of provincial and territorial totals collected on those dates, plus 13 repatriated travellers.
‡ Excludes Nunavut.
§ Data includes COVID-19 cases in Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) health care workers who provided emergency relief in the provinces of Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Includes both regulated and unregulated personnel considered HCWs in the CAF. 
— Data is not available.
Percentage of cases in health care workers is calculated based on the number of COVID-19 cases in health care workers divided by the total number of COVID-19 cases in the province or territory. The percentage of cases in health care workers in Canada excludes provinces/territories where the percentage of cases in health care workers was unavailable.
The comparability of the data reported for the provinces and territories is impacted by differences in their overall COVID-19 testing practices and in the specific collection and reporting of data on COVID-19 cases in health care workers. Changes in testing practices throughout the pandemic may lead to underestimates of the number of cases in health care workers.
Definitions of health care worker roles differ among provinces and territories, and may include volunteers. Counts are based on each province’s and territory’s standard definition.

Keep the following in mind when interpreting this information:

  • Data for this analysis is primarily sourced from reports available on provincial and territorial public health agency or ministry of health websites or on Statistics Canada’s website. For jurisdictions where reports are unavailable, data that we obtained from other sources, including the media, was validated by the ministry in that province or territory.
  • The data cannot currently distinguish where a health care worker acquired a COVID-19 infection.

Sources

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