First case of Omicron variant confirmed in Alberta, patient remains in quarantine
The Alberta government has announced the province's first confirmed case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 as the federal government implements new testing rules for travellers returning to Canada.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw disclosed Alberta's first Omicron case during Tuesday afternoon's COVID-19 update.
"This case has been confirmed in a returning traveller from Nigeria and the Netherlands," said Hinshaw. "The individual tested positive while asymptomatic and I can confirm the individual has not left quarantine since their arrival from international travel."
According to Hinshaw, the infected individual has not left quarantine and both they and their family have been informed of the positive test.
"At this time, this is the only confirmed case of Omicron in the province."
On Monday the province confirmed 156 Albertans were in quarantine after returning from travel in a country in southern Africa due to concerns regarding the potential spread of the altered Omicron variant.
"While it is important that we all continue to remain vigilant in the face of COVID-19 to protect ourselves and others, we don't want Albertans to be alarmed," said Hinshaw.
"As I mentioned yesterday, we anticipated the arrival of this variant in the province eventually based on what we have seen with other strains of COVID-19. We are well prepared for this eventuality and have the necessary tools in place to monitor this case and any potential spread of the variant."
With cases of the Omicron variant confirmed in more provinces, the federal government is imposing new testing rules for people arriving in the country from all nations, except the US.
“All air travelers coming from outside Canada, apart from the United States, will now need to be tested at the airport in which they are landing in Canada -- whether they are vaccinated or unvaccinated," said federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos.
"They will then need to isolate themselves until they get the result of their test,” he announced. The minister said Canada is exploring whether to eventually include travellers returning from the US to its new testing rules.
Canada is also expanding the list of countries facing a federal travel ban.
All foreign nationals who have visited Nigeria, Malawi and Egypt at any time in the last 14 days will be denied entry into Canada, the government announced Tuesday afternoon.
The three nations join South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini as countries already subject to Canadian travel restrictions due to concerns over the Omicron variant.
As of Tuesday, there have also been confirmed Omicron cases in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.
With files from CTV Calgary's Jordan Kanygin
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
A candidate for Germany's key party was beaten up while campaigning for European elections
A candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left party in next month's election for the European Parliament was beaten up and seriously injured while campaigning in an eastern city, the party said Saturday.
Explosion at train station leads to discovery of stolen car on Montreal's South Shore: police
Police are investigating after a BMW exploded in the St-Lambert Exo train station parking lot on Montreal's South Shore.
The pros and cons of discussing mental health issues in the workplace
A group of lawyers has written what they call a groundbreaking book about how mental health is perceived in the legal profession.