Toronto confirms first cases of omicron as Ontario reports 1,031 fresh COVID-19 cases

Key takeaways:

On Friday, 1,031 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Ontario, the most in a single day in 6 months.
Two of the victims had lately returned from Nigeria, while the third had recently returned from Switzerland.
On May 30, the last time a daily case count reached 1,000, there were 614 persons in critical care with COVID.

On Friday, Ontario recorded 1,031 new cases of COVID-19, the most in a single day in six months, as the omicron variant was confirmed in Toronto and York Region for the first time.

The latest daily new case count in the province is the highest since May 30 — when the pandemic’s third wave slowly diminished.

On Friday evening, Toronto Public Health confirmed the first three instances of the omicron variant. Two of the victims had lately returned from Nigeria, while the third had recently returned from Switzerland.

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According to the city’s public health agency, the city’s public health department is following up with the individuals and issuing directions to close contacts.

It noted in a news release that “these are the first examples of the omicron variation of concern that have been confirmed by whole genome sequencing, reported in Toronto.”

“While scientific data is scarce at this moment, scientists and health professionals are keeping a close eye on the appearance of the new omicron variation since early evidence shows that it may be more transmissible.”

Residents who have cold or flu-like symptoms or who have returned from or traveled to South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Egypt, Nigeria, or Malawi between November 1 and December 6, 2021, should seek testing right away, according to the public health department.

Family members and other asymptomatic household contacts are also eligible for testing.

Ontario reports 1,031 new cases of COVID-19, highest since May

The omicron variation has been confirmed in a youngster under the age of 12 in York Region.

On Friday afternoon, York Region reported its first positive case of the variation. The case was detected in a youngster under 12 in Vaughan, who had returned to Canada from southern Africa on November 22.

As per the news release, the child has been isolated at home since then, and public health experts are following up with close contacts who are likewise isolated at home.

In a statement, York Region Medical Officer of Health Dr. Barry Pakes said, “York Region Public Health continues to monitor and also respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we should expect to see the number of omicron variant cases climb across York Region.”

“Vaccination continues our best defense against COVID-19 and its variations of concern. I strongly advise you to obtain your first, second, or third immunization if you are eligible.”

The current case count represents an increase of 11% over the same time last week and includes:

In Toronto, the number is 133.
Simcoe Muskoka has a population of 106 people.
Windsor-Essex has a population of 68.
Peel has a population of 60 people.
Sudbury has a population of 59 people.
Ottawa has a population of 58.
In York Region, there are 56 people.
In Hamilton, there are 47 people.
In Durham Region, there are 44 people.

The seven-day average of daily cases has increased by 21% since last Friday and is now at its highest level since early June.

Cases are currently on course to double every three and a half weeks, according to the latest projection from Ontario’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table.

Despite an increase in cases in most public health units, the burden of COVID on the province’s intensive care facilities has remained largely stable over the last few months.

As of Thursday evening, 146 patients in ICUs were treated for COVID-related disorders. On May 30, the last time a daily case count reached 1,000, there were 614 persons in critical care with COVID.

Source: CBC News

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