Durham Region Health Department yesterday confirmed a second case of the Covid-19 Omicron variant as of December 2, but gave no further information.
Unlike the first case announced on Thursday, Durham Health would not say if the second case was also linked to travel abroad or spread within the community.
However, it did say: “We are currently following up with other Covid-19 cases with a history of travel.”
To protect the privacy of all individuals, Durham Health cannot disclose more info about any case of Covid-19,” said a brief tweet. The Health Department follows-up directly with all individuals diagnosed with Covid-19 and their close contacts.
Earlier, Durham Health confirmed one individual had tested positive for the Covid-19 Omicron variant, said to be highly transmissible.
“The case is a close contact of a returning traveller from one of the identified countries in southern Africa. The Health Department is also monitoring other Covid-19 cases under investigation for the Omicron variant based on travel history and working with the province to monitor Covid-19 variants of concern including Delta and Omicron,” it has said in an issued statement on Thursday..
The Omicron variant was first detected in South Africa. As the impacts of this new variant are being evaluated worldwide and as a precautionary measure, the government of Canada has introduced enhanced border measures. At this time, individuals who have travelled in the southern African region including Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zimbabwe are not permitted entry to Canada. In the coming days, all fully vaccinated travellers arriving by air from departure points other than the United States will be subject to arrival testing. Fully vaccinated travellers will be required to quarantine while they await the results of their arrival test. Unvaccinated travellers will continue to be tested on arrival and day eight, and quarantine for 14 days.