Coronavirus variant first seen in U.K. found in Manitoba

A confirmed case of the coronavirus variant first seen in the U.K. has been discovered in Manitoba.

The case is related to international traveland the person has since recovered, but the province'schief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussinsays there's no evidence to show there's transmission of the B117variant within Manitoba.

"This further illustrateswhy we have our travel restrictions in place to protect the introduction into the community of these type of variants," he said.

Five household contacts are self-isolating, but none of them have tested positive for the virus.

Roussin says the person's original COVID-19 test was sent to the National Microbiology Lab for sequencingand the results came back Monday evening.

WATCH | Roussin speaks about the concerning coronavirus variant that was foundin Manitoba:

Dr. Brent Roussin says coronavirus variant B117 detected in Manitoba, linked to international travel

4 years ago

Duration 1:08

Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief public health officer, said Tuesday a coronavirus variant first detected in the U.K. has been identified in the province. The individual had travelled internationally and had five household contacts, Roussin said, but there is no evidence of further transmission within the province.

"Of course, this is not unexpected," Roussin said. "We see this variant in our country and internationally and we have set up our protocols for just this type of scenario."

Roussin says there will be additional rules in place for cases involvingconcerning coronavirus variants, such as requiring household contacts to isolate for an extended period of time outside the home.

For example, if the person with a confirmed case involving a concerning virus variant isolated at home upon symptom onset or return from travel,any household members would have to isolate outside the home for an additional 14 days after the last potential exposure to the confirmed case.

Premier Brian Pallister says Manitoba is not an island.

WATCH | Coronavirus variant first seen in U.K. found in Manitoba:

Coronavirus variant first seen in U.K. found in Manitoba

4 years ago

Duration 1:56

The coronavirus variant case is related to international travel and the person has since recovered, but the province's chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin says there's no evidence to show there's transmission of the B117 variant within Manitoba.

"Cases of variance of concern have been identified in seven other provinces. Manitoba is the eighth. And so this should be a reason for additional caution and discipline on the part of all of us, not just the public health officials that administer tests, but all of us," he said.

Public health officials anticipate seeing other coronavirus variants of concern in Manitoba, said Roussin.

"We've upped our screening for variants and will continue to up that moving forward. We just need to do whatever we can to delay this introduction of these variants into the community," he said.

The announcement of the virus variant's presence in Manitoba was made while Roussin and Pallisterannounced the loosening ofpublic health orders. Museums, indoor rinks, restaurants, gyms and places of worship will beable to reopen with limited capacity on Friday.

"Because things are controlled, because of the restrictions we have in place and protocols, we're still OKto proceed with our reopening plans," said Roussin. "But it's also a reminder that we're not out of the woods, that we need to be cautious moving forward."

Virus variant more contagious

Scientists say the coronavirusvariant present in Manitoba, which is called the B117 variant, isat least 30 per cent more transmissible, and may possibly be more deadly.

That same virus variant is being blamed for an outbreak at a personal care home north of Toronto.

In a news release on Saturday, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unitsaid the testingdone on Friday has determined thatsix samples taken from the Roberta Place Long Term Care Homeare ofthat strain.

The health unit said at the time the development is of great concern.

Virologist Jason Kindrachuk, an assistant professor in the department of medical microbiology at the University of Manitobasays the next few days in the province will be crucial in terms of B117.

He says it's so contagious, if more cases emerge, Manitoba will have to make some hard decisions about reopening.

"We have to get hold of this now. The fact that we only have a single case I think is quite optimistic as compared to some of the other regions we've seen across Canada. But certainly we now have to be extremely vigilant to ensure that this only stays as as a single case," he said.

Manitoba's Liberal leader isworried about reopening the economy at such a time.

"There wasa public health criticwho said, look, the biggest problem with pandemic response in areas where it's been handled poorly is that they're slow to shut down and too quick to open up. And I think that still is the case today," Dougald Lamont said.

Meanwhile, Manitoba's Opposition Leader Wab Kinewwonders why it took so long to learn about the presence of the variant, after the province received the sample on Jan. 22.

"It's really important that we try and keep a handle on this situation and that we prevent that uncontrolled community spread from happening here. And I think that one of the important ways, at least one of the important factors for us to be able to do so, is for us to tighten that turnaround time," he said.

"Two-and-a-half weeks for us to be able to identify one of these variants is too long."

Pallister closed the news conference with a note of hope, but urged Manitobans to be extra careful.

"[It's] aday to remind one another that we need to be cautious and careful."

WATCH | Full news conference on public health orders and coronavirus variant | Feb. 9, 2021:

Manitoba to loosen some COVID-19 restrictions beginning Friday

4 years ago

Duration 40:19

Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin give an update on further loosening of COVID-19 restrictions in Manitoba.