The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) is reporting the variant of concern for one of the COVID-19 cases in the community outbreak is the South African strain.
It is the first known case of the variant in the health unit district.
The individual who tested positive for the variant has been identified as a close contact of an international traveller and is self-isolating.
“We must stay home and follow public health and safety guidelines. When trips outside the home are required, try to keep them as low-contact as possible, for your own protection and the protection of others. We need to stop the spread of COVID-19 Variant of Concern, and if we don’t act now, it could be devastating for the entire district,” stresses Dr. Jim Chirico, medical officer of health in a news release.
As of Feb. 13, 20 COVID-19 cases in the North Bay and Parry Sound area had screened positive as variants of concern. Most are associated with a community outbreak in North Bay.
The variants spread more easily between people. Three variants have been identified in the province — the United Kingdom (B.1.1.7) strain, the South African (B.1.251), and Brazilian.
Today's Public Health Ontario reported so far there have been 297 cases of the UK variant identified in the province, as well as three cases of the South African strain, and one of the Brazilian strain.
In Sudbury, there have been three confirmed cases of the UK variant.
Yesterday, the Porcupine Health Unit reported two confirmed COVID-19 cases in Timmins had screened positive for possible variants. The health unit expects that further testing will confirm the presence of a variant as one of the people had been in another region where many cases have screened positive for a variant.
