Case of Omicron COVID-19 variant confirmed in Kingston area
A resident in the Kingston, Ont. area who has tested positive for the Omicron COVID-19 variant of concern has no recent travel history.
The Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Public Health unit announced the first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant in the region on Wednesday, as the fourth wave of the pandemic continues to hit the Kingston-area hard.
"KFL&A Public Health continues to investigate the COVID-19 case to identify transmission," said the health unit, providing no other details about the case.
"Please be diligent and continue to adhere to public health measures leading into the holiday season," said medical officer of health Dr. Piotr Oglaza in a statement. "The continued efforts of individuals and families to limit or avoid social gatherings, screen daily for symptoms and stay home if you have any symptoms will help our community limit the spread of Omicron."
Speaking with reporters Wednesday afternoon, Dr. Oglaza said the arrival of the Omicron variant in the region will require some changes, including any high-risk contacts of those found with the variant will need to quarantine, even if they're fully vaccinated.
Oglaza says they are taking the presence of the variant seriously.
“The unknowns about Omicron are, we don’t know how serious or severe infections are going to be, and second one is we don’t know how much of the level of protection we’ll get from the vaccine,” he explains.
This comes as patients are being transferred out of the region and hospitals reach full capacity.
For months, Kingston hospitals took on more than 140 COVID-19 patients from other regions to help east the strain on other areas.
Dr. David Pichora, president of Kingston Health Science Centre, says two patients have been transferred to Ottawa, and one to Brockville, over two days.
“We’re way over capacity in just about every dimension. We’re into surge beds for our acute care as well as our critical care," said Dr. Pichora.
Earlier this week, the region had the most number of COVID patients in hospital than any other in the province, says Pichora.
He says these transfers are necessary because the hospital is not one that can afford to be overloaded with COVID-19.
"We're a trauma centre," said Dr. Pichora. "The weather's terrible today, could there be something on the 401? Hopefully not, but we need to be prepared to handle that."
The Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Public Health unit reported 101 new cases of COVID-19 in the region on Wednesday. Fourteen of the 101 new cases involved residents aged 5 to 11, while 50 cases involved residents aged 18 to 29.
Eighty-eight new cases of the virus were reported in the Kingston region on Thursday.
As of Wednesday, there are a total of 439 active cases of COVID-19 in the Kingston region. According to the KFL&A Public Health COVID-19 dashboard, 30 people are in the hospital with COVID-19 related illnesses, including 12 in the ICU.
Public Health Ontario has reported 31 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant of concern across Ontario, including four in Ottawa.
The four cases in Ottawa were all linked to travel.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Body of Quebec man who died in Cuba found in Russia, family confirms
A Montreal-area family confirmed to CTV News that the body of their loved one who died while on vacation in Cuba is being repatriated to Canada after it was mistakenly sent to Russia.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Saskatchewan isn't remitting the carbon tax on home heating. Why isn't my province following suit?
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
RCMP officers had no legal authority to enter man's home, make arrest: B.C. court
A B.C. man has been found not guilty of assaulting two RCMP officers – with the court finding he was resisting an "unlawful entry and arrest" in his home before he was tasered, taken down and hauled away in handcuffs.