By Canadian Press

Alberta’s top doctor, cabinet committee to discuss threat of Omicron COVID-19 variant

Dec 30, 2021 | 2:50 PM

CALGARY – Alberta’s top doctor says the government is holding a cabinet committee meeting to address growing concerns about the highly contagious Omicron COVID-19 variant.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw says in a post on social media that she’s taking part in today’s meeting to discuss the “latest development and trends” with the variant and to determine how to best protect Albertans.

She says that means this afternoon’s scheduled COVID-19 update has been moved to tomorrow.

The cabinet committee is meeting hours after Alberta reported its highest single-day increase of new infections.

A record-setting 2,775 new cases were reported yesterday, bringing Alberta’s active total to almost 17,400 more than double the amount from last Thursday.

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The Omicron variant is driving rising infections across Canada, with other provinces also setting records.

In Saskatchewan, the premier says the government is changing the metric of how it tracks COVID-19 infections as the province sees rising cases, but decreasing hospitalizations.

Scott Moe says he won’t bring in any new public health orders or restrictions because vaccines and regular testing are lowering the number of deadly health conditions caused by the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Health Minister Paul Merriman adds people with Omicron can get tested and recover with mild symptoms at home so case numbers are no longer a key indicator of the status of the pandemic

He says the government is instead focusing more on COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Merriman and Moe both encouraged residents to get a booster shot, regularly test at home and limit gatherings because that will reduce transmission of the virus.

The province had 1,645 active cases yesterday and is to provide an updated case count this afternoon.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Dec. 30, 2021.

The Canadian Press