Two more Omicron variant cases confirmed in Ottawa
Ottawa's medical officer of health, Dr. Vera Etches, has confirmed two more cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in the city, bringing the number of confirmed cases to four.
Ontario's chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore said Monday morning that public health officials were awaiting full genomic sequencing results from two people in Ottawa to determine whether they contracted the new variant of the virus. Dr. Etches confirmed the two new infections at the Board of Health meeting Monday evening.
"We are now aware of two other returned travellers who have tested positive for the Omicron variant," Etches said. "Ottawa Public Health is conducting the case and contact management and the individuals, all four, are now self-isolating."
The first two Omicron variant cases were discovered in Ottawa over the weekend. They are Canada’s first two confirmed cases of the new variant.
The two cases were in people who returned from Nigeria. They flew through Montreal, Moore said, which is where their initial tests were conducted. Etches told reporters that the other two individuals who tested positive for the Omicron variant had also been to Nigeria. All four people travelled independently and they are not related.
There are no other possible cases of the variant under investigation in Ottawa at this time, Etches added, and there is no evidence of any local transmission.
Moore says Ontario is now conducting genomic sequencing on all positive COVID-19 tests to screen for the variant.
“I would not be surprised if we find more in Ontario, because we have a very robust surveillance system,” Moore said. “I want to reassure Ontarians that we are prepared and ready to respond to this or any other new variant,” Moore said, adding that he has “great confidence” in Ottawa Public Health’s case and contact management capacity.
Etches said that sequencing showed nearly all positive cases in the city lately had been the Delta variant before the Omicron cases were identified.
"They've looked for that screening indicator that something isn't Delta and they haven't seen that up until November 26," she said. "Now, it's a matter of active case finding. As people come into the country, as people test positive, this is the process. It's actively looking for it, but it doesn't look like there was any detection of it that could have been missed."
Moore also mentioned two possible cases in the Hamilton area on Monday.
But he added that although the news of the variant feels concerning, people should remain calm and follow the science, including the public health measures in place. Anyone who is not vaccinated should get the vaccine as soon as possible, he said.
He also suggested there could be an announcement by the end of this week about accelerating third-dose booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Etches had a similar message Monday.
"This is not a new virus and the public health measures that we practise will help reduce the spread of the Omicron variant," she said.
Etches said that, at this time, she does not believe there is a need for enhanced public health measures in Ottawa.
OPH monitoring other travellers
Dr. Etches also said Monday evening that Ottawa Public Health is aware of 15 travellers who have returned from Africa in recent days. OPH is watching for travellers from Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, or Namibia. She did not identify which specific countries each of the 15 people had been to, though they are from the nations identified by the federal government as being of concern for possibly encoutering the Omicron variant. Etches said all of them are following the federal guidance on returning to Canada.
Federal guidelines require Canadian citizens who return to Canada, regardless of their vaccination status or having had a previous history of testing positive for COVID-19, be tested immediately upon arrival. All travellers will also be required to complete a test on day eight after arrival and quarantine for 14 days.
Etches says that all members of the households of any people who return from southern Africa must immediately self-isolate, seek testing regardless of symptoms, and isolate from other family members. People who cannot isolate from pther members of their household are offered the option of staying in a voluntary isolation centre. It's unclear how many other people, in addition to the travellers, must also self-isolate.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Australian police arrest 7 alleged teen extremists linked to stabbing of a bishop in a Sydney church
Australian police arrested seven teenagers accused of following a violent extremist ideology in raids across Sydney on Wednesday, as a judge extended a ban on social media platform X sharing video of a knife attack on a bishop that started the criminal investigation.