(Pixabay)

By David Opinko

COVID variant found in Ontario, officials keeping watchful eye

Dec 26, 2020 | 8:05 PM

OTTAWA, ONT – The Government of Canada says two people in Ontario have tested positive for a new variant of COVID-19 that has been previously detected in the U.K.

The Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed the positive tests and says that, as monitoring and research continues, it is expected that other cases of this variant and potentially of other variants may be found in the country.

The two people who tested positive did not travel outside of Canada.

“While early data suggests that these new variants may be more transmissible, to date there is no evidence that they cause more severe disease or have any impact on antibody response or vaccine effectiveness. More research is required to confirm these findings and the Canadian and global medical, public health and research communities are actively evaluating these mutations,” reads a statement from the federal government.

“Genetic variations of viruses such as the one that causes COVID-19 are not uncommon and many other variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been previously observed around the world this year. Both new variants include mutations (i.e., changes to the genetic material in the virus) on the “spike” protein, which may result in the virus becoming more infectious and spreading more easily between people.”

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On December 20, in response to concerns about the COVID variant in the U.K., the Canadian government suspended all flights from the country for 72 hours. That has now been extended until midnight on January 6.

Canadians are being advised against non-essential travel to other countries, especially if you are heading to the U.K. or South Africa.