CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Alberta has detected its third variant of COVID-19.
Health officials confirmed Sunday the variant first found in Brazil has been found in the province.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw tweeted the two cases, both travel-related, were found thanks to the “aggressive screening processes in place.”
Our labs are screening every positive case for variants of concern to help identify them as quickly as possible. In addition, we also do full genetic sequencing on about 400 cases a week. (2/5)
— Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health (@CMOH_Alberta) March 14, 2021
Hinshaw added she knows variant cases can cause anxiety, but assured Albertans that public health is working hard to prevent their spread.
Both people are isolated and their close contacts are being offered extra testing.
Evidence suggests the P-1 variant can spread more easily than currently circulating strains of the novel coronavirus. It’s already been found in other provinces, including Ontario and B.C.
The B.1.1.7 variant from the UK and the N501Y variant from South Africa have also been found in Alberta.
