Page 27 - Peter Juni News Today

If the new variant is as contagious as some experts predict, why arent they tearing their hair out?

Ontario will make all adults who are three months out from their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine eligible for a booster shot by Monday, as it works to get a quickly worsening fourth wave of the pandemic under control.

Ottawa residents 18 and older will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster shot Monday as the province expands eligibility in the face of the COVID-19 Omicron variant of concern.

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.

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.

Ontario is reporting more than 1,500 new COVID-19 cases today, nearly double the number of infections logged last Monday.

There have been five confirmed cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant detected in the Thunder Bay District and the medical officer of health says more are likely, largely resulting from travel outside of the region.

The science table's adviser, Dr. Peter Juni, says it would make sense "from a scientific perspective" to use rapid tests more often, particularly in schools, workplaces and other congregate settings.

Science experts advising Ontario on the pandemic are set to release new recommendations on rapid testing, with one of the groups leaders saying it makes sense to use the tests more often.

Premier Doug Ford has defended Ontarios approach to distributing COVID-19 rapid tests in the midst of growing calls to make them more widely available as cases rise and the new Omicron variant spreads.