Sudbury

First COVID-19 variant verified in North Bay health unit region

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit says its first case of the COVID-19 variant is in the region.
The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit says it has identified its first case of the COVID-19 variant in the region. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press)

The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit says its first case of the COVID-19 variant is in the region.

The person recently travelled internationally, a spokesperson said Thursday afternoon, and they are currently self-isolating.

Further testing is required to identify the strain of this variant.

"The preliminary results of COVID-19 Variant of Concern confirms the need for everyone to remain cautious and assume everyone outside your home has COVID-19," says North Bay Parry Sound Health Unit's Dr. Jim Chirico.

The health unit says the province is currently facing a surge of variant cases, particularly the COVID-19 variant first
detected in the UK.

"This variant has proven to be easily transmissible, and we have seen this with long-term care homes in districts as close as the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit."