The region’s top doctor is advising against residents traveling outside of Northwestern Ontario this holiday season due to a rise of COVID-19 cases and the emergence of the Omicron variant.
Dr. Kit Young Hoon, Medical Officer of Health for the Northwestern Health Unit said in a media briefing Tuesday the risk is too high of contracting the new variant.
“The primary reason for this recommendation is to slow down the spread of Omicron variant into NWO to give us more time to ensure the third dose vaccination rates are as high as possible,” said Young Hoon.
At this time third dose rates for those aged 12 and older are sitting at 15.7 per cent. On Monday those aged 50 and older became eligible for their third dose if it's been over 24 weeks, or 168 days, since their second dose.
Last week, the provincial government announced that as of Jan 4, 2022, those 18 and older are eligible to book their third dose.
She advises those that do wish to travel outside of NWO that upon return to the region should consider limiting non-essential activities with others for ten days after returning home.
This travel recommendation does impact extra circular activities as they are not considered to be essential Young Hoon noted.
Young Hoon said the Omicron variant has yet to be discovered in the NWHU catchment area, but it’s only a matter of time before it is discovered.
“This is a variant that is extremely transmissible compared to any other variants that we have experienced before and it would be difficult to prevent that transmission,” she added.
On Dec 5, 2021, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) reported four cases of the variant that were a direct link to South Africa.
The Omicron variant was discovered in Canada on November 28, 2021, after two travelers tested positive after returning from a trip to Nigeria.
The region’s top doctor said the best way to protect yourself and those that are immunosuppressed is to get vaccinated.
In the NWHU 85.5 per cent of all ages across the region have gotten their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 78.8 per cent are fully vaccinated.
To book an appointment, residents can:
- Use Northwestern Health Unit’s booking site: https://clinicreservation.com/book-now
- Call Northwestern Health Unit at 1-866-468-2240
- Contact your health care provider
- Contact your local pharmacy