At least 12 cases of XBB 1.5 COVID-19 subvariant now confirmed in B.C. | 24CA News
The variety of confirmed circumstances of the COVID-19 XBB 1.5 subvariant continues to develop in British Columbia, with at the least 12 circumstances documented as of Wednesday, the province’s well being minister mentioned.
That’s up from the 5 circumstances confirmed final Friday, Adrian Dix mentioned. And it’s probably a big undercount.
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21 circumstances of XBB.1.5. COVID subvariant confirmed in Canada
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“There are obviously more cases than that. These are the tested cases that have gone through whole genome sequencing,” Dix mentioned.
“What it tells you is it’s here in B.C. For the moment it’s not the most important subvariant, but it’s just starting here.”
Accurately monitoring the true variety of circumstances of the brand new variant locally is at present just about unattainable, because the province stopped doing PCR exams for almost all of the general public in December 2021.
XBB.1.5 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron subvariant XBB and has been deemed by the World Health Organization (WHO) because the “most transmissible” COVID pressure thus far.
Earlier Wednesday, the nationwide Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirmed at the least 21 identified circumstances within the nation.
The subvariant, which has earned the nickname Kraken on social media, is spreading quickly in Asia, and is believed to now account for about 70 per cent of circumstances within the northeastern U.S. in keeping with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
PHAC has not mentioned but if it considers XBB 1.5 a variant of concern. Officials in B.C. say they’re watching it carefully, and Dix urged folks to recommit themselves to precautions together with carrying masks, staying dwelling when sick and washing arms.
He additionally urged folks to get a COVID-19 booster shot in the event that they haven’t had one but.
“The concern about this subvariant … is the likelihood that it may spread more easily, not that it’s more severe,” he mentioned.
“This is the time to be cautious and get vaccinated against COVID-19.”
As of Monday, information from the B.C. Ministry of Health confirmed that about 63 per cent of British Columbians aged 18 and up had acquired a 3rd dose of the vaccine, whereas about 37 per cent had acquired a fourth dose.
The replace comes hours forward of recent COVID-19 journey measures being carried out amid considerations concerning the new subvariant’s unfold.
Staring at 9 p.m. Wednesday, travellers departing from China, Hong Kong and Macau might want to present a unfavourable COVID-19 check earlier than boarding a flight to Canada.
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