First screened positive COVID-19 variant of concern found in Brant
February 18, 2021
BRANTFORD, ON - The Brant
County Health Unit (BCHU) was notified by Public Health Ontario that a resident
of Brant, previously diagnosed with COVID-19, has been identified as the first
person in the community to have screened positive for a variant of concern
(VOC).
This
individual has no recent history of travel and has been classified to
have recovered from the illness.
Effective
February 3, 2021, every new COVID-19 positive specimen is being screened for
known VOCs in Ontario. Those specimens that screen positive go on for further
testing to confirm which mutation lineage has been found. BCHU is awaiting
confirmation as to which lineage of VOC was detected in this individual.
“We understand
the detection of a new variant of COVID-19 may generate some concern in the
community, but the emergence of variants is somewhat expected in pandemics like
this one,” said Acting Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Elizabeth Urbantke. “The
news of a screened positive variant of concern locally reinforces how important
it is to continue following public health guidance.”
While research
suggests that VOCs are more transmissible and may have the potential for more
severe illness, it is believed, at this time, that the Health Canada-approved
vaccines will still be effective against them.
BCHU has moved
to an enhanced contact management model to help slow the spread of any VOCs. This
includes lower thresholds for determining high-risk contacts and augmented
asymptomatic testing recommendations.
Beginning
today, the BCHU
COVID-19 dashboard will begin tracking VOC cases of COVID-19 in our community.
To
learn more about COVID-19, how you can protect yourself and what to do if you
suspect you may be at risk, please visit www.bchu.org/coronavirus or
visit Ontario's website to learn more about how the province continues to
protect Ontarians from COVID-19.
