Canada records more omicron in 40 days than all coronavirus cases in 2020

By Seyit Aydogan

TORONTO, Canada (AA) - Canada has recorded more cases in the first 40-day course of the omicron coronavirus variant than in the first year of the pandemic.

The omicron variant, first seen in Canada on Nov. 29, continues to spread rapidly across the country.

A total of 777,609 cases of the omicron were recorded in the first 40 days, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

In comparison, between Feb. 15 and Dec. 31, 2020 -- nearly a year -- 581,395 cases of the virus were recorded, according to the agency.

Moreover, COVID-19 cases, which were over 2.26 million on Jan. 3 across Canada, reached nearly 2.6 million with an increase of 327,039 in just a week.

Besides, the death toll between Jan. 3-10 increased by 479 from 30,384 to 30,863.

Meanwhile, in a video conference with Canada's premiers, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Monday said there are enough COVID-19 vaccine doses in the country for everyone to receive a booster as well as a fourth dose.

Also, he said 140 million rapid test kits will be distributed to the provinces and territories in January.

The number of people who received two doses of the vaccine in Canada is over 29.5 million. More than 10.3 million people have received the third dose of the vaccine so far.