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(UPDATE: Nov. 26 @ 10:57 am): Canada is closing its borders to visitors from southern Africa after the discovery of a concerning new COVID−19 variant was detected in the region.
The new variant, dubbed Omicron, first emerged in South Africa and coincided with a steep rise in the number of COVID−19 cases in that region in recent weeks, according to the World Health Organization.
"We are therefore acting quickly in order to protect the health and safety of Canadians," said Health Minister Jean−Yves Duclos at a news conference Friday.
So far there have been no cases detected in Canada.
The ban will apply to foreign nationals who transited through a list of seven countries in the last 14 days, including South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Namibia and eSwatini.
Those already in Canada who recently travelled through the region will need to quarantine, and be tested for COVID−19.
Global Affairs is also issuing an advisory to discourage non−essential travel to South Africa and neighbouring countries.
Canadian citizens and permanent residents arriving home from the region must get a COVID−19 test before they return, and will need to quarantine at a designated hotel until their entry test proves negative.
After that they will be able to isolate at home until they test negative 10 days after arrival.
Currently there are no direct flights from southern Africa to Canada.
Travellers from elsewhere will need to comply with existing COVID−19 prevention measures to enter Canada, including presenting a negative molecular COVID−19 test, even if they are vaccinated.
"We know very little about this variant right now," Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, said at a briefing Friday.
The mutations that have been detected show the potential for greater transmissibility, she said, and could reduce natural immunity and even the immunity offered by vaccines.
"We are concerned about this new variant and closely monitoring the evolving situation," she said.
Tam said she would not be surprised to see cases start to crop up in Canada, and Transportation Minister Omar Alghabra said the government will take additional border measures if necessary.
"This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning," the WHO wrote in a statement Friday.
"Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other (variants of concern.)"
Researchers are already working to learn more about the effects of this new variant, according to WHO’s COVID−19 technical lead Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove.
"Researchers are getting together to understand where these mutations are, and what that potentially may mean for our diagnostics or therapeutics in our vaccines," she said at a briefing Thursday.
The WHO has urged countries to enhance surveillance for variants and report any initial cases.
Cases of the Omicron variant have been seen in countries outside of southern Africa, including Hong Kong, but so far Dr. Tam said there is no community spread in those areas.
Several countries have taken similar actions to Canada, closing their borders to foreign nationals who have recently been in southern Africa, which could make it difficult for Canadians to find their way home.
Alghabra urged any Canadians in that situation to reach out to Global Affairs.
Opposition parties and provincial premiers have called for strict border measures to prevent cases of the potentially dangerous new variant from being imported into Canada.
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole had called on the Canadian government to issue travel advisories, banning non−essential travel to and from the region earlier Friday morning.
"With reports of the spread of a new COVID−19 variant, we have a small window of opportunity to act, and we must move now," O’Toole said in a statement.
The party was critical when the government delayed closing Canada’s borders at the outset of the pandemic in 2020.
The premiers of Alberta, Ontario and Quebec also called for all travellers originating from those countries to be banned from Canada until more is known about the variant.
(UPDATE: Nov. 26 @ 10:17 am): The World Health Organization has identified a new COVID−19 variant of concern, leading to calls for the Canadian government to immediately strengthen border screening.
The new variant, deemed Omicron, first emerged in South Africa and coincided with a steep increase in the number of COVID−19 cases in that region in recent weeks.
"This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning," the WHO wrote in a statement Friday.
"Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other (variants of concern.)"
Health Minister Jean−Yves Duclos and Transportation Minister Omar Alghabra are expected to hold a news conference with Canada’s chief public health officer Friday afternoon to discuss the new variant.
The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution met today to review what is known about the #COVID19 variant B.1.1.529.
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) November 26, 2021
They advised WHO that it should be designated a Variant of Concern.
WHO has named it Omicron, in line with naming protocols https://t.co/bSbVas9yds pic.twitter.com/Gev1zIt1Ek
"We are currently in discussions in monitoring what’s happening and discussions about what measures we can implement," Alghabra told reporters earlier Friday.
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole has called on the Canadian government to issue travel advisories, banning non−essential travel to and from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini.
The Conservatives also want to see mandatory screening at all international airports from affected counties, regardless of vaccination status and mandatory quarantine for all travellers from those countries.
The party was critical when the government delayed closing Canada’s borders at the outset of the pandemic in 2020, and O’Toole said the government should not delay now.
"With reports of the spread of a new COVID−19 variant, we have a small window of opportunity to act, and we must move now," O’Toole said in a statement Friday morning.
Alberta and Ontario’s premiers have also called for all travellers originating from those countries to be banned from Canada until more is known about the variant.
There are no direct flights from South Africa to Canada.
Canada currently requires a negative molecular COVID−19 test to enter the country, even for fully vaccinated travellers. As of Tuesday, all travellers will need to have two doses of a WHO−approved vaccine to travel to or within Canada.
Not much is known about the new variant, according to the WHO’s COVID−19 technical lead Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove.
"Researchers are getting together to understand where these mutations are, and what that potentially may mean for our diagnostics or therapeutics in our vaccines," she said at a briefing Thursday.
In question period Friday, Conservative MPs asked government ministers repeatedly about the plan to protect Canadians from a potentially dangerous new variant.
"We’ll not hesitate to take action to protect Canadians," said Associate Minister of Health Carolyn Bennett.
(Original story: Nov. 26 @ 8:46 am): Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole has called for the government to immediately strengthen border screening in the face of a highly mutated new variant of COVID−19.
The World Health Organization will meet today to discuss variant B.1.1.529, which originated in southern Africa.
Several nations around the world have already moved to stop air travel from southern Africa.
O’Toole has called on the Canadian government to issue travel advisories, banning non−essential travel to and from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini.
The party also wants to see mandatory screening at all international airports from affected counties, regardless of vaccination status and mandatory quarantine for all travellers from those countries.
Health Minister Jean−Yves Duclos is expected to hold a news conference with Canada’s chief public health officer later today.
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