The New Variant Omicron Is Only Infectious For A Maximum Of 10 Days Tam Says
The latest report shared that the omicron variant is any less contagious than the previous versions of the virus of COVID 19, chief health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said on Tuesday.
But Theresa Tam said, ‘This is a difficult decision that the provinces have to make’. She also told the House of Commons health committee that omicron infections need lesser isolation times.
Three weeks ago, the United States Centers for Disease Control said the isolation period should be cut down to 5 days from 10 days. But people have to wear a mask after the isolation ended.
This data was based on CDC suggested data which said that Omicron is most infectious for about two days before the symptoms started and for three days after.
However, the people in Canada were told to follow the prior rules and get quarantined for at least 10 days. Including some other provinces, Nova Scotia, Edward Island, Newfoundland as well as Yukon, and Nunavut have cut their quarantined period to 10 days to 7 days for inoculated people.
Apart from them every other province and northwest territory stuck with the five days isolation rules. Though Canada only allowed the shorter isolation period only to the people who are completely vaccinated.
And the unvaccinated population has to be quarantined for 10 days strictly. Though, children were exceptions, as they are not able to be vaccinated yet.
MPs asked Tam on Tuesday at the health committee when Canada would change their guidelines, she shared that, ‘There’s very little information’ about this new variant.
She also added that ‘But the studies that we’ve managed to amass, including a recent one for Japan, suggests that the period of communicability is no shorter than the other variants because the viral shedding and the viral load doesn’t decrease really until day 10 following symptom onset or specimen collection after the diagnosis.’
And the data is showing no proper evidence that this new variant Omicron is any lesser dangerous than the previous variant of the COVID-19 virus. And her emphasis on the fact one should follow the 10 days isolation because they can still be spreading the virus.
She said to the MPs that ‘an individual that is infected, for example, is still of shedding the virus and communicating this even up to the 10 days.’ She also included that the isolation period can be adjusted if proper precautions are taken.
‘We do recognize that because so many people are infected with Omicron, at the moment, maintaining business continuity and continuity of critical services is extremely challenging,’ she added further.
And to reduce the quarantine period has a certain amount of risks to it. One should follow the protective rules like wearing masks and getting tested properly and frequently.
The United Kingdom reduced the isolation period from 10 days to seven days before Christmas, and then to five days on this Monday. But they also poetize that the symptoms must be gone and the individual must get tested as negative twice on day five and day six of their isolation period.
I am Darryl Broadhurst and i give investors an insight into the most recent news hitting the “Technology” sector in Wall Street. I have been an independent financial adviser for over 11 years in the city and in recent years turned my experience in finance and passion for journalism into a full time role. I perform analysis of Companies and publicizes valuable information for shareholder community.
