The first two cases of the Omicron variant of covid-19 have been detected in Ontario. The province is confirming the first two cases were discovered in Ottawa and both individuals recently traveled from Nigeria.
Ottawa public health says its conducting case and contact management and the patients are in isolation. In a statement from Health Minister Christine Elliott and Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore, the best defense against Omicron is stopping it at the border.
They say if eligible for a booster shot to go and get it to provide an extra layer of protection. They will hold a news conference tomorrow morning at 9:30 a-m. It’s unknown whether variant is more transmissible, dangerous than others.
Canada closed the border to all foreigners who have been to seven specific countries in southern Africa in the last 14 days to help stop the spread of Omicron. Canadians returning to the country will need to be tested before being allowed back in.
Any Canadian citizen or permanent resident who has been to the countries in question and is already back will have to take a covid-19 test and then go into quarantine for 14 days. The World Health Organization released a statement criticizing the travel bans saying further efforts should be made to the global vaccination effort.
