Montreal Public Health calls on people who visited two places “associated with cases linked to the Omicron variant” in early December to get tested as soon as possible. As of Thursday, 14 cases of this new variant had been detected in the metropolis.
“As we said last week, we are going to have a very suppressive approach with Omicron. We take it very seriously to limit transmission as much as possible. Every day that we gain by limiting transmission, it is a gain that we make on the virus. It also allows us to better prepare the healthcare system for a possible Omicron wave, ”explained the spokesperson for the CIUSSS Center-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, Jean-Nicolas Aubé.
Thus, all the people who attended the Buzzfit Kirkland gym on rue Jean-Yves, on 1er December between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., December 5 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. or December 6 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., are invited to get tested for COVID-19.
The same goes for Montrealers who would have attended the Henri-Lemieux Cultural and Community Center, rue Édouard, on December 4 between noon and 2 p.m.
In a press release released on Friday, Public Health reminds these people that “even if you are adequately vaccinated and have no symptoms, we recommend that you get tested for COVID-19 at one of the two centers screening: on the grounds of the Jewish General Hospital or at the CLSC Parc-Extension ”.
For the moment, these are the only two centers whose laboratory is able to detect the Omicron variant in Montreal.
If it is not possible to go to one or the other of these centers, it is still possible to be tested at another screening facility, however, mentioning “that you have potentially been exposed to the Omicron variant. “.
“We are also asking those affected by this call for screening to pre-register for their appointment on the Quebec site. ca / coronavirus and to provide information relating to their potential exposure to the Omicron variant in the form ”, also specifies Public Health on this subject.
According to the latest data, there are currently 14 cases of the Omicron variant in the Montreal area. Of these, five “could have acquired it while traveling outside of Canada.” The others would have contracted it in Canada, “which suggests a limited local transmission”, it is said.
For now, more data on this variant is needed to rule on its transmissibility, virulence or vaccine resistance. Nevertheless, “the first data indicate that it is possibly more 2 to 3.5 times more transmissible than the Delta variant and that there would be an increased risk of reinfection”, finally remind the authorities.