Based on positive test results from December 18th to January 14th
A so-called ‘kraken’ variant of COVID-19 has been detected in the Waterloo area.
Data from the Ontario Department of Public Health showed 14 positive local results for XBB.1.5, a new subvariant of Omicron, between December 18 and January 14.
A request for comment has been sent to the Waterloo Public Health District.
Dr Hsiu-Li Wang, Health Medical Officer for the Waterloo Region, previously said that we should expect not only new waves of COVID-19, but also new variants to emerge in the region.
“There have been talks of new variants, such as the new XBB.1.5 variant, which is on the rise in Ontario and Canada. It is called ‘Kraken’ by some,” Dr. Wang said last week. said at a regional council meeting. “However, the impact is likely to be the same as we have seen in the last few months. and previous background levels of infection, our recommendations remain the same.”
Dr Wang advised residents to stay up to date on recommended vaccinations, wear tight-fitting masks in indoor public settings, and improve or maintain indoor ventilation.
