Dr. Deena Hinshaw provided another update yesterday afternoon, and announced that a case of the Omicron variant has been confirmed in Alberta.
According to Hinshaw, the individual was returning from Nigeria and the Netherlands and has not left quarantine since their return.
It's the only confirmed case of the new Omicron variant in the province.
Not much is known about the variant at this point, as it only emerged within the last few weeks.
Cases have been identified in several countries in Southern Africa, Europe, and Asia, as well as Australia.
So far, cases have reportedly been mild, though Dr. Hinshaw noted that infected individuals have mainly been younger and therefore less susceptible to severe outcomes.
With that being the case, it's unknown if the Omicron variant is resistant to existing vaccines.
Dr. Hinshaw also provided updates on new COVID cases and hospitalizations in Alberta.
An additional 238 COVID cases have been identified in Alberta in the last 24 hours following over 5400 tests.
Hospitalizations increased slightly, with 434 Albertans being treated for COVID in hospital and 81 of them being in intensive care.
Six additional deaths were confirmed.
Local Update:
As of November 29, 2021 the City of Grande Prairie has 73 active cases of COVID-19, and the County of Grande Prairie has 85 cases.
Information provided by OkotoksOnline/Government of Alberta