By NewsDesk  @bactiman63

The Public Health Agency of Canada reported today that testing and monitoring of COVID-19 cases has confirmed two cases of the Omicron variant of concern in Ontario.

Ontario map/public domain wikimedia commons

Minister of Health, Jean-Yves Duclos said, “As the monitoring and testing continues with provinces and territories, it is expected that other cases of this variant will be found in Canada.

“I know that this new variant may seem concerning, but I want to remind Canadians that vaccination, in combination with public health and individual protective measures, is working to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and its variants in our communities.”

Canada has implemented enhanced border measures for all travellers who have been in the Southern Africa region — including South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Namibia— within the last 14 days before arriving in Canada, until January 31, 2022.

The Government of Canada advises Canadians to avoid travelling to countries in the Southern African region and will continue to monitor the situation to inform current or future actions. Restrictions are changing quickly and may be imposed by countries with little warning, disrupting travel plans. Should individuals choose to travel outside Canada, they may be forced to remain outside of Canada longer than expected.