WATERLOO –
The Waterloo Public Health District is investigating several COVID-19 cases linked to two hockey league outbreaks believed to be linked to the Omicron variant.
In a statement issued Saturday morning, public health officials said 11 cases of COVID-19 were linked to a hockey tournament in London, Ont., attended by the hockey team. Hespeler Shamrocks bridge, while 20 cases of COVID-19 were linked to another hockey league in the Ajax-Markham area that was attended by the Cambridge Roadrunners.
Officials said there was a “strong probability” that the outbreaks were linked to the Omicron variant.
That’s because four of the COVID-19 cases in the Hespeler Shamrocks group and one in the Cambridge Roadrunners group tested positive for a marker that officials said in the release raised the possibility it was variable. Omicron bodies.
A large number of cases have also been linked to the outbreaks, the statement said.
“It is very likely that the new variant of Omicron is already here in the Waterloo Region, and we expect that it will spread quickly,” said Dr Hsiu-Li Wang, health officer for the Waterloo Region.
“We know that the best way to protect against COVID-19 and the new variant of Omicron is to get vaccinated and follow public health precautions. At this time of increased risk, we are also advising residents to reduce unnecessary social contact. ”
All hockey players and those at high risk have been advised to stay home and isolate until test results are available.
