New Variant

• Winnipeg doctor encourages bivalent COVID-19 vaccine as uptake slows, variant spreads

  Amid shrinking availability and demand, a Winnipeg doctor is urging Manitobans to get their bivalent COVID-19 vaccine as the XBB.1.5 subvariant surges across North America.

  Health

  Jan 8
  
• Cases of Omicron sub variant ‘Kraken’ emerging in Atlantic Canada

  Nova Scotia Health confirmed the presence of the Kraken variant, while Newfoundland and Labrador's Health Department issued a release Thursday confirming its first case.

  Canada

  Jan 6
  
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• New Omicron subvariants are being closely monitored in Alberta

  The two variants are descendants of Omicron's BA.5 subvariant and are spreading rapidly in Europe, the UK and the U.S. They've also been detected in small numbers in Alberta.

  Health

  Nov 6, 2022
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• WHO analyzing 2 new Omicron COVID-19 sub-variants: BA.4 and BA.5

  The WHO said it had begun tracking them because of their "additional mutations that need to be further studied to understand their impact on immune escape potential."

  World

  Apr 11, 2022
• Fauci says breakthrough infections will come as Omicron spreads

  Omicron has been found through testing in 43 out of 50 U.S. states and around 90 countries so far after first being identified in southern Africa and Hong Kong in late November.

  World

  Dec 19, 2021
• 4 Omicron cases confirmed in Ottawa, others under investigation in Ontario

  Moore urged Ontarians to "remain calm," adding he doesn't see the need to step backwards and roll back any restrictions at the moment.

  Health

  Nov 29, 2021
• Moderna says Omicron COVID-19 vaccine could be ready by early 2022

  Moderna could have a new vaccine to tackle the Omicron variant in 2022. With mRNA vaccines the pharmaceutical company can move very fast, says its chief medical officer.

  Canada

  Nov 28, 2021
• U.K. eyes expanding COVID-19 vaccine boosters as 3rd Omicron case found

  "Our advanced sequencing capabilities enable us to find variants and take rapid action to limit onward spread," Jenny Harries, chief executive of UKHSA, said in a statement.

  Health

  Nov 28, 2021
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• Netherlands, Australia confirm cases of Omicron COVID-19 variant

  "It is not unlikely more cases will appear in the Netherlands," Health Minister Hugo de Jonge told a news conference in Rotterdam. "This could possibly be the tip of the iceberg."

  World

  Nov 28, 2021
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• Here’s why WHO skipped 2 Greek letters to name new variant ‘Omicron’

  The WHO chose on Friday to dub the variant, first reported to the agency by scientists in South Africa, ``omicron'' -- continuing its use of the Greek alphabet.

  World

  Nov 27, 2021