Montreal declares state of emergency over surge in Omicron cases

CBC News shows the Omicron Virus Variant story. The City of Montreal has declared a local state of emergency in an effort to curb the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Medical experts continue to learn about Omicron and monitor its course. It is not completely known yet how easily it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, or how well available vaccines and medications work against it.

Spread:

The Omicron variant likely will spread more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and how easily Omicron spreads compared to Delta remains unknown. CDC expects that anyone with Omicron infection can spread the virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or don’t have symptoms.

Severe Illness:

More data are needed to know if Omicron infections, and especially reinfections and breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated, cause more severe illness or even death than infection with other variants.

Vaccines:

Current vaccines are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths due to infection with the Omicron variant. However, breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated are likely to occur. With other variants, like Delta, vaccines have remained effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. The recent emergence of Omicron further emphasizes the great importance of vaccination and boosters.

Treatments:

Scientists are working to determine how well existing useful treatments for COVID-19 work. Based on the changed genetic make-up of Omicron, some certain treatments are likely to remain effective while others may be less effective.

Vaccines remain the best public health measure to protect people from the virus COVID-19, slow transmission, and reduce the likelihood of new virus variants emerging.

Masks certainly offer some protection against all virus variants.