Sask. government confirms first case of Omicron variant
Saskatchewan is reporting its first case of the Omicron variant.
Four people from one household screened positive for the variant, a statement from the Ministry of Health said. The family has a travel history to one of the countries of concern identified by the Government of Canada.
These individuals and their close contacts have all been identified and are currently isolating,” the statement said. “Contact investigations underway have confirmed that the risk of community transmission is low.”
The tests will undergo whole genome sequencing to confirm they are the B.1.1.529 variant. The ministry said the geographical region of these cases will not be reported.
The ministry said additional Omicron cases are anticipated, and residents should continue to adhere to pandemic-related restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 and its variants.
On Wednesday, health minister Paul Merriman said based on the advice from the province’s chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab, the best way forward is to stick with the status quo.
“The best thing is to get vaccinated, make sure you’re doing your social distancing and you’re adhering to the public health guidelines like wearing your mask when you need to. That’s what Dr. Shahab is saying,” Merriman said.
The minister added Dr. Shahab would likely provide more information on the current Omicron situation in Saskatchewan on Thursday.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority said it is keeping a close eye on the Omicron variant, saying it does raise concern.
“We understand, based on the evidence, that [Omicron] is perhaps more transmissible than other variants. But we don’t know yet what the severity of that particular variant would be,” Will said. ”It’s a bit of an unknown for us.”
Dr. Dennis Kendel, a physician and public policy consultant, said vaccinations appear to be the prime defence against the variant.
“There’s no doubt that it spreads quite aggressively, but the really good news is it sounds like the vaccines are equally effective against it as they were against Delta, so it doesn’t look like it’s going to pose a greater risk in terms of severity of illness,” Dr. Kendel said.
He said to reduce to spread, everyone should get their COVID-19 booster shot as soon as they are eligible.
In Saskatchewan, everyone over the age of 50 is currently eligible to receive their booster shot once six months has passed from their second dose.
“As we have become familiar with [the Delta variant], we were becoming more complacent and feeling that everybody who was vaccinated was well protected. For the most part, vaccination is really good protection but there can be breakthrough. We probably need to minimize mixing in large groups,” Dr. Kendel said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.