First case of omicron COVID-19 variant confirmed in Alberta, Hinshaw says - CBC.ca

Alberta's first case of the omicron variant has been confirmed in a traveller who returned to the province from Nigeria and the Netherlands.

"I'm reporting we have now one confirmed case of the omicron variant in Alberta," Dr.

Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, told a news conference Tuesday.

She said the individual, who had been travelling alone, returned to Alberta about one week ago and was tested for COVID-19 on arrival.

The province's current health restrictions are not being beefed up as a result of the single case of omicron — but it also isn't the right time for gathering restrictions to be loosened, Hinshaw said Tuesday.

"So if that continues, and if we don't see alarming evidence about severe outcomes from omicron, we will consider some kind of potential modest relaxation of gatherings, primarily because we are concerned about compliance," Kenney said.

When asked about Kenney's remarks, Hinshaw said officials are continually assessing the impact of restrictions on public health, mental health and social isolation. .

"I don't think it's the right time to completely lift all of our indoor social gathering restrictions," she said.

Hinshaw said Tuesday that 238 new cases had been reported in the previous 24 hours.

As of Tuesday, there were 434 people in Alberta hospitals with the disease, including 81 in intensive care, Hinshaw said.

Six new deaths were reported to Alberta Health in the previous 24 hours, she said.