Manitoba experts saying not to panic over new Omicron COVID-19 variant

With the newest COVID-19 variant of concern continuing to surface in Canada, some Manitoba experts are saying not to panic.

With the newest COVID-19 variant of concern continuing to surface in Canada, some Manitoba experts are saying not to panic.

Omicron was first discovered in southern Africa and now cases of the variant have been confirmed in Ontario and Quebec. This is causing concern for some Manitoba residents, who are worried about potential restrictions.

This includes nutrition and food science researcher Dylan MacKay, who after almost two years is once again enrolling participants into studies.

"My research group, we are really excited about starting a bunch of trials this week essentially and into next year," he said.

MacKay said if the new variant leads to new restrictions his planned in-person research may not be possible.

"We thought about that a lot over the last year and a half, how we can reduce contact in case the pandemic continued or the pandemic got worse. That’s really where we might be leaning on that with the new variant,’" MacKay said.

Winnipeg epidemiologist Cynthia Carr said as more information is learned about the Omicron variant, it is important not to panic or get over-anxious.