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Variants of Concern in the Southwestern Public Health Region

Wednesday, 17 March 2021 at 15:09

By ChrisM

Local health officials are now confirming that a total of 18 COVID-19 positive individuals have screened positive for a variant of concern.

OXFORD COUNTY/ELGIN COUNTY/ST.THOMAS - Southwestern Public Health has now confirmed 18 variant of concern COVID-19 cases in the region.

Local Medical Officer of Health Dr. Joyce Lock says right now 40 percent of all COVID-19 cases in Ontario are screening as variants of concern.

"This means that the viruses are changed or mutated from the original novel coronavirus identified more than a year ago. In our region we have had at least 18 COVID-19 positive individuals screen positive for a variant of concern."

Two of those have come back from the lab as a the B117 variant that was first discovered in the U.K. The Health Unit will start identifying Variant of Concerns on the local COVID-19 dashboard. 

Dr. Lock says these variants spread more easily.

"They can also sometimes make your disease more severe, so that you may more readily need to go into the hospital. Some of the variants impact how well the vaccine will work and they also affect how we test and diagnose people." 

All positive test results in Ontario are now screened for a variant. The good news is the Pfhizer vaccine seems to contain the B117 variant, which is the only one that has been confirmed in the Southwestern Public Health Region to date. 

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