COVID-19 U.K. variant in Hamilton is related to travel: Medical Officer of Health

Hamilton’s Medical Officer of Health says the person with the first confirmed case of the COVID-19 U.K. in the city variant has a history of travel.

“That’s not to say it’s not here in a broader way. There is community spread happening in Ontario. We shouldn’t take comfort that this case was related in some way to travel,” says Dr. Elizabeth Richardson who also confirmed the person is not living in a congregate setting.

Public Health says they are managing every single case as if it is a variant of concern.

“With any case that we do have, we are being more sensitive around contacts. The controls that are being put in place for contacts are more strict.”

Richardson says medical officers in Ontario worry about new variants.

Projections show that these variants will take over as the primary strains that are circulating and a third wave will emerge from that.

“When our neighbours from the east are in a stricter level we tend to see people travelling form those areas. That is a concern,” says Richardson.

Richardson is referring to Toronto and Peel regions which remain under a stay-at-home order for another two weeks.

Despite being in the red-control category of restrictions,  Richardson’s message to those living in Hamilton is to behave as though they are in lockdown.

“People should be staying home unless its for essential reasons.”

READ MORE: Hamilton prepares to move into the red-control zone

Richardson says public health measures such as physical distancing and mask wearing are as critical now as they were in the beginning of the pandemic, if not more.

Hamilton expects 5,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine each week.

Her comments come as the province reported 1,038 cases of COVID-19 and 44 deaths on Thursday.