Photo: Government of Alberta

By EverythingGP Staff

First case

First case of U.K. COVID-19 variant detected in Alberta

Dec 28, 2020 | 4:37 PM

The first case in Alberta of COVID-19 linked to the variant of the novel coronavirus found in the United Kingdom has been confirmed, according to the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

During Monday’s COVID-19 update, Dr. Deena Hinshaw says someone who has travelled from the United Kingdom to Alberta has tested positive for the variant virus.

This becomes the fourth such case confirmed in Canada, including two in Ontario and one on Vancouver Island in B.C. All of these cases are linked back to U.K. travel.

“The good news is that this individual did everything they were supposed to do,” said Hinshaw, of Alberta’s first case. “Following quarantine and other public health measures, and at this point there is no evidence that there has been any further spread.”

Since the announcement by U.K. health officials earlier this month that the new variant was a leading cause of infection in the southeastern part of England in recent weeks, the Canadian government and many within Europe have imposed a travel restriction on the U.K.

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While there is no indication it causes more serious illness than other strains of COVID-19, some evidence points to it being more transmissible from person to person.

“What we know right now is that there is some evidence this variant may be more infectious than other strains of the virus,” said Hinshaw. “At the moment we don’t have any evidence that it is spreading widely in Alberta.

“This particular single case, there is no evidence that it has spread at all in the province.”

Hinshaw said the province is working with the public health agency of Canada in determining anyone who may have been in close contact on the same flight from the U.K.

She reiterated on that point that there does not appear to be transmission of the variant virus occurring within Alberta, at this time.

“It is important to remember that the public health measures in place are protective against this variant, and the best thing we can do to protect each other is to follow them,” said Hinshaw.

READ MORE: BioNTech CEO confident vaccine will work on UK variant