Genome testing has confirmed the presence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant in London.
Officials with the Middlesex London Health Unit (MLHU) were notified of the positive results Tuesday afternoon. The sample that was tested at the Ontario Public Health Laboratory is from an individual who is part of a large cluster of COVID-19 cases identified by the health unit on Monday.
"The MLHU continues to investigate the COVID-19 cases that have been linked to the arrival of two travellers from Nigeria, who arrived in London in late-November," read a statement issued by the health unit on Tuesday.
There are currently 40 confirmed cases in the cluster and 171 close contacts have been identified, the health unit said. Most of the cases in the cluster are associated with several schools, childcare centres, and a south London church.
Early Tuesday morning, three Catholic elementary schools in the city closed for the rest of the week out of precaution as the COVID-19 cases linked there were likely to test positive for the Omicron variant.
The health unit said workers will continue to follow up with persons under investigation (PUIs) and close contacts, and are advising those who hear from the MLHU to follow the directions and guidance given to them.
Early last week, provincial health officials confirmed the newest, highly transmissible variant had arrived in Canada after two positive cases of the Omicron variant were identified in Ottawa.
