Quebec confirms case of Omicron variant of concern; 115 travellers under watch
Posted Nov 29, 2021 08:19:19 PM.
MONTREAL — Quebec health officials have confirmed a case of the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus.
Health Minister Christian Dubé made the announcement today at a news conference updating the province's COVID-19 situation.
Dubé says 115 people who recently travelled to the province, principally from countries in southern Africa, have been asked to take a PCR test and to isolate.
He says experts are working to sequence the tests and to determine whether the variant is more contagious or more vaccine-resistant than previous strains.
Ontario reported Canada's first two cases of the Omicron variant of concern on the weekend. The province said today the two infected people were recently in Nigeria and were tested for the virus in Montreal before travelling on to Ottawa.
Public health director Horacio Arruda said Quebec's case also involves a person who recently travelled from Nigeria, but he did not say whether it was connected to the Ontario cases.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Nov. 29, 2021.
The Canadian Press
