(Halifax) Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador are both now reporting cases of the Omicron “XBB.1.5” subvariant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, reflecting a spread already seen in the whole world.
Health authorities in Nova Scotia confirmed the presence of this new variant on Friday, while the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Health issued a statement on Thursday confirming the appearance of a first case.
Spokespersons for the ministries of health of these two provinces recalled that there was so far no indication that this subvariant of Omicron causes a disease more serious than the previous mutations. They point out, however, that it is the most contagious strain to date of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
Earlier mutations are still circulating and causing illness and death in the Atlantic region.
Nova Scotia’s main health agency reported a total of 20 deaths from COVID-19 in its first update of 2023. One of those 20 deaths occurred between December 20 and January 2, and the remaining 19 for an indefinite period.