BC scientist calling for better public access to COVID-19 data amid fear of sixth wave of the pandemic

A BC scientist is calling for better public access to COVID-19 data as the province enters what could be a sixth wave of the pandemic.

In its latest report, the independent BC COVID-19 Modelling Group says it believes BC is at the beginning of a second Omicron wave.

Sarah Otto, a mathematical biologist, UBC professor and modelling group member, says the severity of that wave remains unclear due to uncertainty on multiple fronts, including reliable data.

She says data that's been made publicly available in B-C lags behind other Canadian jurisdictions, and is not sufficient to do proper statistical analysis.