The U.K. COVID-19 variant has shown up in Saskatchewan, having been detected in two people living in the Regina zone.
The information was provided in the province’s daily COVID-19 update. It said one infected individual travelled from the United Kingdom and the second case was the result of close contact with the person who travelled.
The province said both individuals were tested in the middle of January
“While the Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory is testing travelers for variants of concern, those tests must be genome-sequenced at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg,” the province said in a press release on Tuesday. “This process can take one to two weeks.”
The province said both residents quarantined and are no longer infectious.
“Public health’s contact investigation indicates that all contacts of these residents have been identified and there is no indication of further transmission,” the province said.
“If required, public health will issue a public service announcement to alert the general public to any risk due to any confirmed case of a variant of concern.”
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The province is urging residents to hold off on travelling, saying it’s the best protection against COVID-19 variants.
“Stay home, physically distance, wash your hands frequently, wear a mask and get tested if you are experiencing even mild symptoms,” the release read.
The province said it is looking at increasing public health measures and making changes to its surge capacity planning, all in consideration of the impacts of the U.K. COVID-19 variant.