Manitoba experts saying not to panic over new Omicron COVID-19 variant
With the newest COVID-19 variant of concern continuing to surface in Canada, some Manitoba experts are saying not to panic.
Omicron was first discovered in southern Africa and now cases of the variant have been confirmed in Ontario and Quebec. This is causing concern for some Manitoba residents, who are worried about potential restrictions.
This includes nutrition and food science researcher Dylan MacKay, who after almost two years is once again enrolling participants into studies.
"My research group, we are really excited about starting a bunch of trials this week essentially and into next year," he said.
MacKay said if the new variant leads to new restrictions his planned in-person research may not be possible.
"We thought about that a lot over the last year and a half, how we can reduce contact in case the pandemic continued or the pandemic got worse. That’s really where we might be leaning on that with the new variant,’" MacKay said.
Winnipeg epidemiologist Cynthia Carr said as more information is learned about the Omicron variant, it is important not to panic or get over-anxious.
"This sounds scary that there are cases identified in Canada," she said.
Carr noted some positives in the situation are that we're hearing about this variant of concern quickly, it's easily detectable through testing, and some vaccine manufacturers are already working on a modified shot.
She said every time a new variant is discovered, there is the same cycle of identification, and worldwide cases related to travel.
"Not every situation did that lead to an escalation of cases. Delta is highly efficient. Yes, it did overtake and become the predominant strain. We don’t know if that is going to happen with this,” Carr said.
According to Monday's provincial bulletin: “No cases of the B.1.1.529 (omicron) variant have been detected in Manitoba at this time and the province can confirm that all positive travel-related specimens are being sequenced.”
As this new variant dominates the COVID-19 conversation, MacKay has been talking with immunologist and virologist colleagues as he goes forward with his research.
"Just waiting to see what the next publications will be on how dangerous it is, how much it spreads, that kind of stuff," he said.
Canada is now barring travellers from seven southern African countries.
The province said it is monitoring the situation and working with federal officials.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
2 teens charged in Halifax homicide: police
Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to an alleged homicide near the Halifax Shopping Centre earlier this week.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
ByteDance prefers TikTok shutdown in U.S. if legal options fail, Reuters sources say
TikTok owner ByteDance would prefer to shut down its loss-making app rather than sell it if the Chinese company exhausts all legal options to fight legislation to ban the platform from app stores in the U.S., four sources said.
12-year-old hippo in Japan raised as a male discovered to be a female
When Gen-chan arrived at a zoo in Japan in 2017, no one questioned whether the then-five-year-old hippopotamus was a boy. Seven years later, zoo staff made a surprising discovery: Gen-chan, now 12, was female.
Here's why Harvey Weinstein's New York rape conviction was tossed and what happens next
Here's what you need to know about why movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction was thrown out and what happens next.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole dies at 90: CBC
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.