First GTA cases of Omicron variant detected in Durham, Halton

The first two cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant have been detected in two health units in the GTA.

A resident of Durham Region tested positive for the strain on Thursday, one person in Halton Region was confirmed to have the variant later the same day.

Durham Public Health said the region’s case is a close contact of a returning traveller from one of the identified countries in southern Africa.

“While this new variant is no reason for alarm, it is important to remain vigilant and continue to follow public health measures that have proven to be effective throughout the pandemic,” said Durham Region’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Kyle, in a release.

He also said health officials are continuing to monitor other COVID-19 cases under investigation for the Omicron variant based on travel history.

Halton Public Health says there are two other suspected cases of the variant in that region, in addition to the confirmed case. One of the suspected cases recently travelled to Nigeria and is a close contact of the other two.

All three individuals are self-isolating, and public health officials are getting in touch with all of the patients’ contacts.

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In the meantime, Toronto Public Health has declared an outbreak and confirmed Omicron case at the Toronto East Detention Centre in Scarborough.

Officials said the case was also being investigated by the Durham Region Health Department — it is unclear if the infected staff member from the jail is the Durham resident who became the GTA’s first case.

The Omicron variant was first detected in South Africa. While the impact of the variant is being studied globally, the Government of Canada has introduced enhanced border measures as a precaution.

At this time, individuals who have travelled through Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe are not permitted entry to Canada.

Ontario confirmed its first cases of the variant over the weekend. Cases have also been documented in British Columbia, Alberta and Québec.

With the arrival of the new variant, the Ford government announced Thursday they will expand the rollout of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to anyone 50-and-up on Dec. 13. Starting in January, the province says they will further expand eligibility for booster doses based on age and risk, with an interval of six-to-eight months from the second dose.

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With files from the Canadian Press