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
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.
Significant police presence as Israeli flag flies at Ottawa City Hall
The Israeli flag is flying at Ottawa City Hall today to mark the country's national day, with plans to hold a private ceremony to mark Israel's Independence Day. There is a significant police presence at City Hall, including security barriers outside the main doors.