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Toronto-Ontario detected the first two known cases of Omicron in Canada on November 28th. This is a new COVID-19 mutant of concern that has led to new border restriction slate worldwide.
In a joint statement with Dr. Kieran Moore, the state’s highest public health authority, Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said both cases of this variant were found in the Ottawa area of people who recently stayed in Nigeria. Stated.
“Ontario is ready and ready for this new variant. The capacity of our hospitals and intensive care units is stable and the state is the most active case in the country. We continue to report one of the lowest percentages, “says Pair.
They have Ottawa Public Health conducting “case and contact management” and patients are self-isolating, while the state tests all eligible positive COVID-19 samples to determine mutations. He said he was.
The federal government has recently banned visitors from seven countries in southern Africa, including Namibia and Zimbabwe. Nigeria is not included in it.
Statements by Elliott and Moore urge the federal government to take stronger action at the border, suggesting that everyone will be tested for COVID-19 on arrival, not just before leaving for Canada.
“The best defense against Omicron variants is to stop it at the border,” they said.
Federal Health Minister said Ottawa continued to assess the situation, but said Sunday news should not be wary.
“This development shows that our surveillance system is working,” Jean-Yves Duclos said in a statement.
“While this new variant may seem of concern, vaccination, in combination with public health and individualized protection measures, to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and its variants to the community. I want to remind Canadians that they are working. “
Alberta’s chief doctor said her state’s public health authorities have told people who have traveled from “one of the countries of interest” in the last 14 days to contact and quarantine themselves.
“We are working closely with health authorities across the country to closely monitor the situation in Omicron,” Dr. Dina Hinsho tweeted on Sunday. “Currently, there are no confirmed cases of this COVID-19 mutation in Alberta.”
Omicron was first detected in South Africa. In South Africa, cases of COVID-19 have increased exponentially in recent weeks.
“Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this mutant,” the World Health Organization said compared to others, scientists say it is more contagious. It states that it may be.
Israel has decided to ban foreigners from entering the country, and Morocco said it will suspend all arriving flights for two weeks starting Monday. Other countries, including the United States, New Zealand and Thailand, have taken an approach like Canada and banned travel from just a handful of countries in southern Africa.
WHO has advised against travel bans, suggesting that this variant may be overreacted, as little is known about it.
Nicole Thompson
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