COVID-19's new Omicron variant is airborne, adding challenges to limiting spread
Alberta's top doctor says Omicron is spreading through the air with far greater frequency than previous variants, prompting her to recommend upgraded masks.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's Chief Medical Officer of Health, said Tuesday far more recent cases are being linked to single events and airborne transmission.
The advice is being echoed amongst doctors across the country as provinces take steps to limit the impact of a fifth wave.
"A lot of the gaps that you see in the surgical mask, especially on the sides are plugged up with an N95 masks, they filter 95 per cent of particles," said Dr. Kashmir Pirzada, an emergency room physician and representative of medical advocacy group Masks4Canada. "So your chances of getting a viral load high enough to get an infection is a lot less.”
Recent projections from the BC COVID-19 Modelling Group predict Alberta could hit 6,000 cases per day by the first week of January under current conditions.
Alberta went from an average of 644 new cases over the past weekend, to 818 confirmed and probable on Monday, followed by 1,380 reported for Tuesday.
"Previously, we thought maybe like one-in-10, or one-in-20 people with COVID [were due to] airborne transmission, maybe that's now up to like 20 per cent, or 30 per cent of people with COVID," said Dr. Daniel Gregson, infectious disease specialist and associate professor of internal medicine at the Cumming School of Medicine. "It could be that that the viral load is higher. We don't have good evidence for that yet.
"So you can imagine jumping on an elevator where somebody has been there without a mask on, and they may have contaminated the air in that space."
Since the early days of the pandemic, masks were primarily meant to significantly reduce spread through droplets — the tiny drops of saliva and virus that hang in the air as people are speaking. Airborne virus lingers much longer, appearing to add to Omicron's highly contagious nature.
The province introduced some new measures Tuesday and has asked Albertans to limit their weekly contacts by half and to upgrade their masks if possible. Cloth masks and the standard disposable surgical mask, while better than nothing, are far less effective due to lower quality filtration and a generally loose fit.
However, finding retailers with supply of N95 masks is a challenge. Costco and Home Hardware stores are sold out in the Calgary area, as are many Superstore, London Drugs and Calgary Co-op locations, an issue some retailers report has been a longstanding problem.
Non-profit Masks4Canada has published a list of suppliers as well as a guide to fitting masks on its website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.