39 cases of fast-spreading COVID-19 U.K. variant found in York Region

'It's here to grow': 24 new cases appear in four days

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 2, 2021
Kim Zarzour

York Region is in a race to stem the spread of the B.1.1.7 (U.K.) variant of COVID-19, with 39 cases of the highly contagious variant now confirmed.

That’s an increase of 24 cases since Jan. 28, when the region’s medical officer of health, Dr. Karim Kurji, warned that York appears to have the highest community spread of the variant in the province, and possibly the country.

Most cases in York Region were acquired locally, are present in all age groups and are in at least six of the nine municipalities in York Region, he said.

"In other words, it's circulating among our residents and it's probably here to grow," Kurji said in his Feb. 1 video address.

The first York Region case appeared in late December after a King Township resident tested positive Dec. 22.

As of Feb. 1, 24 different households in York Region are now confirmed to be impacted by the highly contagious variant, Pat Casey, director of corporate communications, said.

The majority of these cases are in Vaughan, where 12 people have tested positive, and Markham, where 11 tested positive.

Five cases were detected in Richmond Hill and four cases each in King and Georgina.

An additional three cases were confirmed in Newmarket, Casey said.

Only six of these infections can be linked to travel, he said.

The majority of individuals acquired the U.K. variant by close contact -- 10 within their own household and an additional 13 through other close contacts.

The infection appears in all age groups: seven between 65 and 79 years of age, nine between 55 and 64, six between 45 and 54, five between 35 and 44, nine between 20 and 34 and the remaining three in children younger than nine.

There is some good news, Kurji said.

Just north of York Region, in Bradford, Barrie and Midland, several congregate care settings have been grappling with the spreading variant but, at this point, there are no known cases of the B.1.1.7 variant in long-term care homes in York Region.

None of the people confirmed to have the variant have been hospitalized; it is not associated with any fatalities and only 10 of the variant cases are still considered active, Kurji said.

And so far, the variant does not seem to have sparked an increase in transmissons. The overall COVID-19 case count in York Region is declining.

However, other areas where the variant has appeared have shown "explosive and exponential growth," Kurji said. There is concern that the variant has shorter incubation periods, more transmissibility, possible transmission beyond 10 days and may be associated with greater severity.

"We are very concerned," Casey said. "It is important to curb this COVID-19 variant spread as quickly as we can. We are expeditiously contacting the close contacts of the cases in order to ensure there isn’t any unwitting transmission happening."

Close contact continues to be the largest factor of spread of COVID-19 in York Region, reinforcing the need for everyone to stay home and follow all public health advice, he said.

It is also crucial to provide public health with all history of contacts and contact information if you test positive for COVID-19, and download the COVID alert app.

York Region has created a special unit that focuses on these particular cases and their close contacts and, beginning this week, the region is testing all specimens of COVID-19 to locate the variant, Kurji said.

Members of York Region council passed a motion Jan. 28 calling on the federal government to immediately implement mandatory testing and limits on international travel.

The following day, the province announced a new, six-point plan including mandatory on-arrival testing for international travellers at Toronto Pearson International Airport, and enhanced screening and sequencing to screen all positive COVID-19 tests in Ontario for known variants.

These measures should help curb the spread, Kurji said.

Anyone who has been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, regardless of which strain, is required to stay home and self-isolate for 14 days.

York Region has opened a free, voluntary isolation centre for residents who cannot safely self-isolate away from others in their household.

For more information, visit york.ca/isolationcentre

Updated information regarding B.1.1.7 variant cases is available at york.ca/covid19data