The number of patients affected by an Omicron outbreak on a unit at the Miller Centre in St. John’s has risen to 12, but until now, the symptoms experienced have been mild.

Clinical Chief of Infection Prevention and Control with Eastern Health, Dr. Natalie Bridger says while they’re hopeful measures in place will contain the outbreak to that unit, it’s still too early to say if it will spread further within the facility. While some staff are affected by the virus, they are not linked to the outbreak at the Miller Centre.

The symptoms to-date have been mild, including a cough and runny nose, but she “wouldn’t consider the situation mild.”

She says the virus was likely introduced to the unit on Christmas Day, but wasn’t identified until December 29th.

That four day interval allowed the virus to propagate among patients who were unaware of the exposure.

Dr. Bridger says Omicron and the speed by which it spreads has changed the way Health Authorities react to the potential spread of infection.

She says the fast spreading Omicron is a game changer. She likens it to a race against time because Omicron is spread before officials even know it’s present.