First case of Omicron COVID-19 variant reported in Alberta
Six more Albertans have died due to COVID-19 as the province reported 238 new cases Tuesday as well as its first case of the Omicron variant.
The case was confirmed in a returning traveller from Nigeria and the Netherlands, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said Tuesday afternoon.
"The individual tested positive while asymptomatic and I can confirm that this individual has not left quarantine since their arrival from international travel," Hinshaw said. "As I mentioned yesterday, we anticipated the arrival of this variant in the province eventually based on what we have seen with previous strains of COVID-19."
"We're well prepared for this eventuality and have the necessary tools in place to monitor this case and any potential spread of the variant. As I have mentioned, the goal is to delay the spread of Omicron until we learn more about it."
Little is known about the latest COVID-19 variant, Hinshaw stressed, before she added the province is being cautious with targeted contact tracing and testing to slow its spread and learn more about it.
- Infographics: COVID-19 in Alberta by the numbers
- COVID-19 in your community: Edmonton’s coronavirus status in numbers
The six deaths bring the number of deaths due to COVID-19 in Alberta up to 3,248.
There are now 434 COVID-19 patients in Alberta hospitals, including 81 in intensive care units.
Last week, the first doses of vaccine were administered to young Albertans between the ages of five and 11 years old.
Unvaccinated Albertans remain significantly more likely to suffer a severe outcome after contracting COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.
More than three-quarters of all Albertans, 76.1 per cent, have had a first dose of vaccine and 71.4 per cent of the entire population has had a second dose.
Alberta’s next data update is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
GLOBAL OMICRON IMPACT
The discovery comes days after the federal government introduced travel restrictions from southern Africa in an effort to slow the variant’s growth.
Omicron has rattled global financial markets, with Wall Street reporting another dour day on Tuesday. That included a more than six per cent slide in crude oil prices that sent them to their lowest level in three months.
Earlier Tuesday, the province touted a smaller than expected deficit, largely due to higher than expected oil prices.
At the start of Tuesday, five known cases of the Omicron variant had been confirmed in Canada, as public health officials warned more cases were likely to be revealed in the coming days.
On Monday, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said the province was closely monitoring new developments around the variant.
That day, Hinshaw noted the provincial lab is screening all COVID-19 positive samples for previously known variants. Nearly all cases of COVID-19 in the past week have been the Delta variant.
All returning travellers identified as a COVID-19 case are now subject to an expanded case investigation, contact tracing, and testing for close contacts, including rapid testing for household contacts.
Close contacts of returning travellers with cases are required to isolate for 14 days after their last contact, unless they are fully immunized.
“We are taking these interim measures in order to prevent potential spread as early as possible, giving ourselves time to learn more about the variant.”
OTHER COVID-19 RELATED NEWS
Premier Jason Kenney says the province is considering easing private gathering restrictions for the holiday season if Alberta's ICU pressure continues to ease.
Alberta Health Services is allowing health-care workers at facilities at risk of being short staffed to take frequent COVID-19 tests rather than get a vaccine. A list of sites where the accommodation will be allowed has not been released by the government yet.
Alberta's updated vaccine status QR code for domestic and international travel can again be downloaded. Health Minister Jason Copping said Monday an investigation is underway into privacy breaches that may have occurred when it first launched.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Toxic forever chemicals in drinking water: Is Canada doing enough?
As the United States sets its first national limits on toxic forever chemicals in drinking water, researchers say Canada is lagging when it comes to regulations.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Some customers steaming after McDonald's ends free hot drink sticker program
It took years for Vinnie Deluca to collect more than 400 cards worth of free McDonald's McCafe coffee, a collection that now has "zero value" after the company discontinued the program.
Biden scores endorsements from Kennedy family, looking to shore up support against Trump and RFK Jr.
U.S. President Joe Biden will accept endorsements from at least 15 members of the Kennedy political family during a campaign stop in Philadelphia on Thursday as he aims to undermine Donald Trump and marginalize the candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
When new leaders took over in ancient Maya, they didn't just bury the former royals. They burned their bodies in public
New archeological investigations in Guatemala reveal that the ancient Maya people had a ritual of burning royal human remains as a public display of political regime change.
Party's over: Coyotes play final game as Arizona franchise before move to Salt Lake City
Mullett Arena buzzed like few times in the two years since the Arizona Coyotes moved in, the fans amped for one last desert hurrah.