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The first two cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant have been detected in our country.
Health officials have confirmed its presence among patients in Ottawa following recent travel to Nigeria.
Ontario’s Ministry of Health has issued a statement, which is calling for stronger protections at the Canadian border.
“The best defence against the Omicron variant is stopping it at our border,” the statement says. “In addition to the measures recently announced, we continue to urge the federal government to take the necessary steps to mandate point-of-arrival testing for all travellers irrespective of where they’re coming from to further protect against the spread of this new variant.”
The World Health Organization believes the heavily mutated variant is more contagious.
It was first detected in South Africa and has been linked to a spike there.
The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution met today to review what is known about the #COVID19 variant B.1.1.529.
They advised WHO that it should be designated a Variant of Concern.
WHO has named it Omicron, in line with naming protocols https://t.co/bSbVas9yds pic.twitter.com/Gev1zIt1Ek— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) November 26, 2021
Virus triggers travel restrictions
It has prompted travel restrictions around the world.
In an effort to curb its spread, the Canadian government announced on Friday it would bar visitors from the South African region.
Nigeria was not included.
Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos expects more cases will be found.
“I know that this new variant may seem concerning, but I want to remind Canadians that vaccination, in combination with public health and individual protective measures, is working to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and its variants in our communities,” Duclos says in a press release.
Health officials in Ontario are working to contact and trace the cases with a news update set for Monday.
