The UK variant of COVID-19 has been detected in a now-resolved case in the area, says Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health.
On Wednesday WDG Public Health was alerted that the case been identified as the COVID-19 UK variant after subsequent genetic sequencing by Public Health Ontario.
"The individual received a positive test for COVID-19 on January 13 and the case was considered resolved on January 21 after the individual completed their self-isolation," said WDG Public Health in a news release on Thursday. "The case was managed by WDG Public Health as a non-variant case of COVID-19."
The additional screening came as a result of the affected person's travel outside Canada, which included contact with individuals from the UK.
“We were fortunate in this instance,” said Dr. Nicola Mercer, medical officer of Health and CEO of WDG Public Health. “Public Health acts quickly to contact all positive cases of COVID-19 in the region and ensure they self-isolate. Because this individual followed public health guidance, the risk to the community was limited.”
WDG Public Health says it has established a process to address COVID variant cases aggressively to contain their spread. Case management and contact tracing of COVID-19 variant cases will be prioritized as soon as Public Health receives notification of a positive test result.
In the case of this first local reported instance of the UK variant, WDG Public Health said no action is required from the public, but it asks people to be aware that gathering with others for even small amounts of time puts everyone at risk of acquiring a COVID-19 variant.
“It’s important that the public understands the risk and follows public health guidance to ensure these strains of the virus don’t spread through our region, put all of us at risk and put further pressure on our healthcare system,” said Mercer. “Because they are so much more transmissible than the original strain of COVID, they can spread more easily which makes it even more important to not gather together with anyone outside of your own household.”
