Omicron variant likely linked to cluster of at least 30 COVID-19 cases
The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) says there is a "strong probability" that the Omicron variant is linked to a cluster of at least 30 cases of COVID-19 in the region.
Officials say they were notified of two cases screening positive for the 'S' gene target failure (SGTF),' which is a marker for the Omicron variant.
The two cases are part of a cluster linked to travellers who arrived in London from Nigeria late last month.
During a virtual media briefing Monday, MLHU Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Alex Summers said, "Although the whole genome sequencing results that are required to confirm that these cases are indeed Omicron are not yet available, the combination of travel history and screening results make this highly likely that Omicron is here in Middlesex and London."
An outbreak of at least 14 cases at God's Favourite House church on Dearness Drive in south London is also linked to the cluster.
The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) says they have identified two schools with the potential close contact to the Omicron variant.
Princess Elizabeth Public School and Delaware Public School have indentified close contact cases. Both schools will remain open at this time.
Meanwhile the London District Catholic School Board has temporarily closed three of its schools due the number of students and staff who must quarantine.
The number of high-risk close contacts of this cluster continues to increase, and the health unit expects it will exceed 100.
While the investigation is "unfolding rapidly" Summers was able to say that, to his knowledge, the travellers were fully vaccinated and had followed federal guidelines around testing.
"It appears there may have been household transmission that had subsequently spilled out of the house, resulting in transmission in the community."
Summers said that those impacted over the age of 12 were largely vaccinated, and that while they are symptomatic, there have been no hospitalizations associated with the cluster.
"I do want to highlight, as I mentioned before, being fully vaccinated still reduces your risk of transmission even likely with Omicron, and certainly it will reduce the probability of hospitalization and that is a notable success."
The health unit is continuing to follow up with persons under investigation and with close contacts and asks that anyone contacted follow their direction.
"The news of the Omicron variant today is upsetting, it is unsettling, it is certainly not something we were looking for as we sit here at the end of 2021," Summers said. "However, the same principles that have helped us weather this storm so far are the same principles will help us weather this as well."
Those measures include vaccination, masking, limiting social contacts and gatherings and staying home and getting tested if you're sick.
The health unit is expected to put out additional guidelines later this week in an effort to curb rising case counts.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
BREAKING McGill University seeks emergency injunction to remove pro-Palestinian encampment from campus
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.