Toronto, Canada, the World — there’s hardly anywhere that the speed of the Omicron virus is not causing deep concern. But how lethal is it? The question hangs in the air. Maybe not worse than other variants but there’s no absolute certainty, it seems. Some say it’s no worse than flu. Now new research from a team in Hong Kong offers a clue to why the Omicron coronavirus variant is spreading so astonishingly fast. It may be multiplying 70 times quicker than earlier strains within our lower airways. The laboratory-based study, led by researchers from the LKS Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, was shared online as a press release on Wednesday and is currently undergoing peer review for publication. In Ontario, new cases shot skyward Thursday as the government reported 2,421 cases compared to 1808 Wednesday.
- Omicron multiplies 70 times faster in airways compared to Delta, study suggests
- The WHO Says We Underestimate Omicron ‘At Our Peril’ & The Variant Is Spreading Fast
- South African study finds Omicron more like flu
- Omicron may be no worse than flu and panic is unjustified, UK government told
This video from @nbc6 in Miami, FL is of a drive-thru COVID testing site. It is from today. It is not from last year. pic.twitter.com/Hll8chlkPL
— Jesse Rodriguez (@JesseRodriguez) December 16, 2021
UPDATE: I'm told Yorkdale Mall has made big improvements today to its rapid test distribution. A friend went shortly before 10 & only waited 5 mins. Importantly, the line has also been moved outside (parking garage). 👍 Not sure how long supplies will last tho (1000 tests total) https://t.co/7e4SDvnZAq
— Jennifer Yang (@jyangstar) December 17, 2021
Every testing site has a long line. A half dozen places turned me away yesterday. This is NYC, it shouldn’t be this difficult to get a COVID test pic.twitter.com/zMEOwMzPVD
— Dan Krauth (@DanKrauthABC7) December 17, 2021
Current rapid test kit update.
The following stores are currently out of stock:
Oakville – N Service Rd & Dorval
Toronto-North York – Wilson & Dufferin
Barrie – Bayfield & Hanmer
Toronto-Central – Eglinton & Laird
Mississauga – Dixie & Dundas St E
Kitchener – Ottawa & River— LCBO (@LCBO) December 17, 2021
Hearing that many locations are out of rapid tests. I even tried the flagship @LCBO at Summerhill and nothing.
So I asked if they at least had $1 beer.
They laughed out loud. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
— Chris Cowley (@oectagovernor) December 17, 2021
