More cases of the COVID-19 omicron variant are showing up in Canada.

Meanwhile, the federal government and the U.S. have implemented certain travel restrictions to reduce the spread.

Our question this week: Is it time to rethink your family holiday plans?&nbsp;Is it safe to travel?

What we know about the new coronavirus variant omicron

As scientists race to find out more about the recently discovered coronavirus variant B.1.1.529 that the World Health Organization has labelled a variant of concern and named omicron, here's what we know about where and when it was identified, why it is causing concern and what countries have done in response.

People queue to get vaccinated at a shopping mall, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday Nov. 26, 2021. Advisers to the World Health Organization are holding a special session Friday to flesh out information about a worrying new variant of the coronavirus that has emerged in South Africa, though its impact on COVID-19 vaccines may not be known for weeks.

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Researchers are expecting to get information this week on how effective current coronavirus vaccines are against omicron, says infectious diseases researcher Craig Jenne. Vaccine efficacy is one of four key areas that are being studied, he says.

Expert explains what we need to know about the new variant

Omicron could threaten COVID-19 immunity — but we're not going back to 'square one'

The omicron variant, now reported in multiple Canadian provinces and a growing number of countries worldwide, could threaten hard-won immunity to the virus behind COVID-19. But there's hope the highly mutated variant won't bring the world back to "square one" in this pandemic.

Some experts say it's still unclear just what impact pandemic fatigue has on behaviour of individuals and the role it might play in people ignoring new restrictions being implemented amid the rapidly spreading Omicron variant.

Omicron street scenes

The omicron variant of COVID-19 has now been reported in multiple Canadian provinces and a growing number of countries worldwide.

Canadians, other foreigners will need COVID-19 test a day before flights to U.S.

The U.S. will soon require Canadians and other foreign visitors who arrive by air to get a COVID-19 test no more than one day before their departure, down from three days.

People edit baggage claim while arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport as the U.S. reopens land borders to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccinated travellers for the first time since the COVID-19 restrictions were imposed, in New York, U.S., November 8, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

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U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about the new coronavirus variant, omicron, during a visit to the National Institutes of Health on Thursday, in Bethesda, Md.

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How Canada changed its position on pandemic travel bans

Countries are acting swiftly to isolate regions where COVID-19 variants of concern have emerged. Many scientists are not convinced that travel bans actually work. Some say bans encourage countries to downplay outbreaks or hide new variants. Others say bans can buy time.

Passengers check in at Toronto's Pearson Airport on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021.

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Canada should focus on vaccine equity — not travel bans — human rights advocate, doctors say

Canada has funded several initiatives designed to achieve global vaccine equity throughout the pandemic. But some doctors and a human rights advocate told CBC the Canadian government could do more.

A BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is prepared at a vaccination center in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. Germanyâ€™s national disease control center has reported a record-high number of more than 50,000 daily coronavirus cases. The infections spike comes as German lawmakers are mulling new legislation that would pave the way for new coronavirus measures. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

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Canadian experts say the country needs to do better to address vaccine equity by providing more vaccines and supporting vaccine production.

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Passengers check in at Toronto's Pearson Airport on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. The Canadian government has implemented stricter COVID-19 testing requirements for travellers in response to the discovery of the omicron variant.

Is it time to rethink your family holiday plans?

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