First COVID-19 Variant of Concern Detected in Local Health Unit Area
The local public health agency has been notified of the first case of COVID-19 variant of concern in a local resident.
The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDHU) received the test results last night and has notified the individual who resides in Northumberland County. The individual had already been identified as a confirmed case and has been in isolation prior to receiving notification they have a variant of concern. All of the person’s high-risk contacts had also been reached previously and are in isolation as well.
At this time, there is no information on which of the three variants of concern (VOC) has infected the individual. All confirmed COVID cases are being further tested for the variants of concern, but it does take a few extra days for the results to be determined.
“While it is unfortunate that we are seeing a case with the variant of concern, it is not unexpected,” said HKPRDHU Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Gemmill. “The three variants have been identified across Canada, and their high level of transmissibility has just meant it was a matter of time before we saw something locally.”
The three new variants of the COVID-19 virus have been identified as being a greater risk to people due to high rates of transmission. At this time, there are three variants that have been identified: a variant first identified in the United Kingdom in November 2020, a South African variant identified in December 2020, and a variant first detected in travelers from Brazil who arrived in Japan in January 2021.
Dr. Gemmill says the identification of the variant in the community means that it is more important than ever that residents continue to be vigilant and follow the public health measures to help stop the spread.
“Even though the provincial stay-at-home order is going to be lifted next week, I am pleading with people to continue to stay home to stop the spread,” Dr. Gemmill said. “Just because the order has been lifted, it does not change the virus, it does not change the epidemiology of the virus and it does not change the risk of spreading it to others.”
Dr. Gemmill is urging residents to continue to follow the public health advice of not having social gatherings with others and not leaving home for non-essential reasons.
“Staying home is still the most prudent thing to do even with the order lifted,” he said.
For media inquiries, contact:
Chandra Tremblay, Manager, Corporate Services: Communication and IT Services, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, 1-866-888-4577, ext. 1212; ctremblay@hkpr.on.ca
