More COVID-19 cases with coronavirus mutations confirmed in Toronto

Toronto Public Health (TPH) has announced that five COVID-19 cases with coronavirus mutations have been identified in two health care facilities in Toronto.

On Friday, the local health unit said one case had been confirmed to be the UK variant of concern, with TPH is awaiting the lab testing results for the remaining four cases.

According to TPH, they are investigating a COVID-19 case that screened positive for a variant of concern mutation at Elm Grove Living Centre, a long-term care home in Toronto.

The Public Health Ontario Laboratory is conducting further tests to determine if the case is a variant of concern.

“This case has no travel history and has not had contact with anyone who has travelled recently. The Elm Grove Living Centre currently has a small and stable COVID-19 outbreak. To date, the outbreak involves three positive residents and eight positive staff members,” the release said.

“TPH continues to work with the Elm Grove Living Centre facility to ensure that all appropriate infection prevention and control (IPAC) measures are in place to limit further spread of the virus. In addition, 95% of residents and 80% of staff have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.”

The health unit is also investigating four cases at Baycrest Hospital that have screened positive for a mutation associated with variants of concern. TPH has been informed that one of these cases has been reported as positive for the UK variant of concern.

These cases are part of a current COVID-19 outbreak with 16 positive cases, of which 11 are in-patients, and five are among staff.

“TPH continues to work with Baycrest Hospital to reinforce IPAC measures to limit further spread of the virus.”

According to the City, these variants are reported to spread more easily and may be more resistant to vaccines and more difficult to detect in testing, which is why following public health measures is important to stop the spread of the variants.