While a new type of COVID-19 stemming from the Omicron variant has emerged, an infectious disease expert believes that Canada is likely to see a rise in cases by late August or early September.

Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist based in Toronto, told CTV News on Tuesday: "COVID hasn't really gone away. It has been waning and waning for a while."

So far, the UK and the US have reported the most cases of the EG.5 illness, but Bogoch said that Ontario has also identified cases "for several weeks now."

However, he noted that it is unlikely Canada will experience a wave of infections with the same severe impact as before 2022, adding: "I don't think people will notice anything different compared to the more recent waves we've seen."

Bogoch also stated that staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations remains a way to protect yourself from the "severe manifestations" of the virus.

Bogoch said: "The symptoms are likely to be very similar. The ways to prevent it are the same, and we have the tools to do that."