Page 43 - Advisory Table News Today

The omicron variant has been reported in Windsor-Essex, public health reported on Tuesday. Three more people have died due to the disease including a woman in her 20s.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is calling for thousands of volunteers to staff new vaccination centres in shopping areas, stadiums and racecourses as the government accelerates its booster program to combat the omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Ontario reported more than 1,400 new COVID-19 cases and five more virus-related deaths on Tuesday as the test positivity rate hit a high not seen in nearly seven months.

Ontario’s top public health official says that there may need to be a “more consistent” province-wide approach to public health measures amid the rapid spread of an Omicron variant that is likely to be a “game changer” for the pandemic.

As Omicron case numbers continue to rise, experts are warning that the rollout of third doses may have to be ramped up and some health restrictions may have to be re-imposed to prevent the variant from overwhelming hospitals.

As promised by the Ontario government, students will bring home rapid antigen screening kits this week, before the winter break.

Ontario reported 1,476 new cases of COVID-19 and eight additional deaths on Sunday, with labs now reporting more than one in every 20 samples they receive are positive, the highest positivity seen since early May 2021.

Starting Monday at 8 a.m., Ottawa residents aged 50 and over will be eligible to book a third dose through the provincial booking system or at pharmacies.

Ottawa Public Health is reporting community transmission of the COVID-19 Omicron variant of concern, two weeks after the variant was first detected in Ottawa.

Ottawa Public Health is making rapid COVID-19 test kits available for students at 11 schools in Barrhaven and Riverside South, as the area sees a "significant increase" in transmission.