B.C.'s Omicron count climbs to 44 as modelling predicts possible holiday season spike
CTV
The number of Omicron cases confirmed in B.C. has more than quadrupled, as new modelling predicts the variant could trigger a rapid increase in transmission this holiday season.
The number of Omicron cases confirmed in B.C. has more than quadrupled, as new modelling predicts the variant could trigger a rapid increase in transmission this holiday season.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced Tuesday that 44 Omicron infections have been identified through whole genome sequencing, and that additional confirmations are pending.
"There will be more cases," Henry said. "It is important to know that we have transmission in the community now."
The previous Omicron total, provided by the government Friday afternoon, was 10.
More than half of the Omicron cases have come from the Fraser Health region, which spans from Burnaby to Boston Bar, but the concerning new variant has popped up in every health authority across the province.
Officials said the infected range in age from five to 72, with a median age of 33, and most have no recent travel history. The 20 who have recently travelled went to countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Iran, Mexico, Germany, Portugal and the U.S.
None of the cases have resulted in hospitalization, something Henry credited to the generally young age of people getting infected, and the fact that all but seven have been vaccinated.
