Just as COVID-19 restrictions seemed to be easing this Fall, we have learned of the emergence of yet another variant of the virus. Before Omicron was identified in South Africa, it had already infected people in Europe. Now cases have been reported in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, as well as in many other parts of the world.
This new variant contains more than . . .
30 mutations in its spike protein, the tiny lock pickers that allow the virus to bind to human cells and help it gain entry to the body. As long as there are living organisms where the virus can thrive, it can also mutate into new forms able to elude our defenses, making vaccination of everyone in the world a crucial step in defeating this virus, just as it was with polio, for example.
As of Friday, 86 percent of Canadians aged 12 years and older were fully vaccinated. Children aged five to eleven have recently become eligible for vaccination. As our vaccine numbers increase and our infection rates decrease, hopefully we will come out of this pandemic sooner than later. While we would all love for this to be the case, experts predict that we may be well into 2023 before we see any kind of normalcy.
While no one knows for sure whether they are carrying the virus and risking the infection of others, getting vaccinated can surely diminish the length and severity of the illness and the long-term health issues that can come with it. Our seniors and the immunocompromised population are still in the highest risk category.
Most transmissions occur indoors. While service clubs, businesses and other organizations are beginning to host events, social distancing and masks remain just as important as ever. With the holiday season upon us, the long-awaited Christmas celebration is no exception.
We need to be proactive and ensure we protect ourselves and everyone around us. It is our responsibility as individuals and community members to make sure we are doing our due diligence. Having a merry Christmas means we need to make sure our gatherings can happen without risk.
Katherine Hynes
