Health officials reporting 34 cases of COVID-19 variants in Canada

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam (CPAC)

Federal health officials announced that multiple new cases of the COVID-19 variants first discovered in the UK and South Africa have been found in Canada.

On Friday, Canada’s chief public health officer said that the country has now confirmed 31 cases of the UK variant of coronavirus, and three cases of the South African variant.

Dr. Theresa Tam reported the new cases at a press conference but did not specify which provinces or territories they were discovered in.

Ontario has confirmed 15 cases of the UK variant. British Columbia has reported several cases of the UK mutation as well as one case of the South African variant.

Alberta has seen 12 cases of the UK variant and two cases of the South African mutation.

On January 20, the Public Health Agency of Canada warned that new cases with no recent travel history suggest community transmission is already happening.

Daily Hive has reached out to the Public Health Agency of Canada for more information and will update this story accordingly.