Health unit in London, Ont. confirms 40 Omicron variant cases linked to recent travellers
Posted December 7, 2021 5:05 pm.
Last Updated December 7, 2021 5:21 pm.
The city of London, Ont., is dealing with a significant outbreak involving the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) says there are currently 40 confirmed cases that have been linked to two travellers who arrived from Nigeria in late November, with 171 high-risk close contacts now identified.
The health unit says cases in this cluster have been associated with several schools, childcare centres and a church in south London.
“Any COVID-19 cases or high-risk close contacts associated with this cluster are considered persons under investigation (PUI) for the Omicron variant,” they wrote on Tuesday.
“Health Unit staff members continue to follow up with PUIs and close contacts and are advising anyone who is contacted by MLHU case investigators to follow their direction and guidance.”
The confirmation came after the local health unit said it was investigating a “cluster” of COVID-19 cases that had a “strong probability” of testing positive for the Omicron variant.
The MLHU released a statement Monday after two COVID-19 cases tested positive for “S Gene Target Failure (SGTF),” which is a marker for the Omicron variant.
Ontario’s pandemic advisers released modelling Tuesday showing that the province could see 3,000 new COVID-19 infections daily by mid-January, even without accounting for the new Omicron variant, which they warn could have a “substantial” impact.
The Ford government said it would maintain a pause on lifting capacity rules in specific settings, including nightclubs, event spaces with dancing, strip clubs and sex clubs.
