After Ontario reported its first two cases of a more contagious strain of COVID-19 from the U.K., the B.C. Ministry of Health says it might consider imposing stricter rules to curb non-essential travel.
The first two cases of the new variant of the virus which was first discovered in the U.K. were reported in Ontario on Boxing Day, according to CTV News Vancouver.
“We will continue to do everything we can to keep people and communities safe and may consider further action to reduce non-essential travel as the situation evolves,” said a ministry spokesperson in an emailed statement to CTV News Vancouver.
“We are aware of the cases reported in Ontario and have been watching this closely, while reviewing all positive cases in B.C. travellers that potentially came from the U.K.”
The new strain is believed to spread easier and faster, according to Ontario health officials. There is no evidence suggesting it causes more severe symptoms and the current vaccines are likely to work against it.
The current restrictions do not require travellers to quarantine when they fly between B.C. and Ontario.
“The new strain only emphasizes the need for all of us to be vigilant and to follow the orders and guidance right now, especially as we are rolling out our immunization program for the most vulnerable people in B.C., including many frontline health care workers,” the statement continues.
To date, no cases of the new strain of COVID-19 have been announced in B.C.
“Genetic analysis is being performed to identify if there have been previous or new cases associated with this variant."
The more contagious strain of COVID-19 has been found in other countries such as Denmark, Japan, Israel and Sweden.
- With files from CTV News Vancouver and CTV News Toronto’s Phil Tsekouras
