Ontario has confirmed the country’s first cases of the more contagious U.K. COVID-19 variant.
The two cases are a couple from Durham with no known travel history, exposure or high-risk contacts.
Both individuals have been informed and are now in self-isolation as per public health protocols.
Provincial health officials say modelling and epidemiological studies suggest that the COVID-19 variant first identified in the U.K. can spread easier and faster, but there is no evidence that it is more likely to cause severe illness.
There is also no evidence to suggest that the Health Canada-approved vaccines will be any less effective against the new variant.
Ontario entered a province-wide lockdown on Boxing Day.
