Omicron variant considered dominant strain across London, Ont. region

The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) is warning against holiday gatherings again this year in the face of the rapidly spreading omicron variant.

"I'm asking everyone to limit their close contacts as much as possible. It is time to cancel plans. It is time to avoid indoor gatherings that are non-essential ... even if you are fully vaccinated," said Dr. Alex Summers, Acting Medical Officer of Health at the MLHU.

Summers says omicron has now become the dominant strain across the region and is rapidly becoming the dominant strain across the province.

There are many challenges to this new variant, according to Summers. Omicron shows increased transmission compared to other variants and is estimated to be two to three times more transmissible than the delta strain.

Summers says the vaccine effectiveness for symptomatic infection is also reduced compared to other variants.

"The vaccine remains the most important thing that we can do right now to protect not only against symptomatic infection, but most notably, potentially hospitalizations and death," he said, adding vaccines should continue to provide some protection against severe illness and death.

It is still unclear how severe the symptoms are with the omicron variant. To date, most cases across Ontario (particularly among vaccinated individuals) have been asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. But Summers says it is too early to make any conclusions about the long-standing impact of omicron.

"It will take higher case numbers to see increases in hospitalizations and death. However, hospitalizations and deaths are a lagging indicator, which means we don't see it till after the peak in case counts".

In an effort to provide as many booster doses as possible for those 50 and up, the MLHU announced earlier Monday that it would be increasing vaccine clinic capacity in the new year. The health unit says the added clinic space will be crucial as they prepare for the expanded booster and third dose vaccination eligibility that comes into effect in early 2022.

The provincial government announced last Friday that all Ontarians over the age of 18 will be eligible to receive a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine starting Jan. 4, 2022.

Summers says the health unit is also modifying its management of COVID-19 cases under the assumption that they are all the omicron variant. Effective Monday, all close contacts, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to quarantine for 10 days after their last exposure to an individual who has tested positive with the virus. Individuals will also be asked to be tested on or after the seventh day in order to exit quarantine.

The health unit says that as case counts rise, close contacts may be notified directly by the individual who tested positive for COVID-19.

"So again, I'm emphasizing as we enter the holiday season, this cannot be a holiday season like others," said Summers. "It is a daunting and frustrating situation that we find ourselves in, and I want to thank everyone for their ongoing commitment to one another and to keeping each other healthy and well."