57 cases of variant strains of COVID-19 identified in Alberta

Medicine Hat, AB–Alberta Health Services is closely monitoring for variant strains of COVID-19 in Alberta.

Chief Medical Health Officer Doctor Deena Hinshaw announced during Tuesday’s update that 57 cases of the variant have been found in Alberta. 50 cases are from the variant first identified in the United Kingdom and 7 are from South Africa. 43 cases were confirmed in returning travellers and 6 are close contacts of those travellers.

8 cases have no link to travel yet identified. Investigations are underway to determine the source of these cases. However, earlier today it was learned 4 of these cases have a link to an outbreak at a daycare centre. Work is underway to contact parents and staff at that facility. “This is concerning but it does mean that we have a better chance of controlling spread when we understand the linkages between cases,” Hinshaw said. Alberta Health is not releasing publicly the name of the daycare or which health zone it’s located in at this time.

AHS has also learned there has been some household spread in cases of returning travellers. In two Calgary zone schools, this household spread has unfortunately led to children of returning travellers attending school while infectious. As a result, 3 classes from 2 schools are now isolating. “The families involved in these situations did not intentionally break any rules and should not be blamed or shamed,” Hinshaw stated. She added “we are analyzing these cases and emerging evidence closely. There is no evidence right now that there has been any spread of the variant at these schools.”