Vanessa Tignanelli/The Globe and Mail
Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer is warning of the “very real” risk that new coronavirus variants could lead to a resurgence in infections as more cases of the fast-spreading variants are detected across Canada daily.
The variant threat is forcing local public-health officials to step up their COVID-19 containment measures, even as a sharp drop in overall cases since the second week of January prompts some provincial governments to tiptoe toward reopening.
The latest race to contain a variant-fuelled outbreak is unfolding in North Bay, where a cluster at an apartment tower has now spread to at least 19 residents and led to the closing of a school.
26 January 2021 at 19 h 00 min Reading time: 3 min
By Gordon Lambie
In his Tuesday afternoon update alongside Health Minister Christian Dubé and Provincial Public Health Director Dr. Horacio Arruda, Quebec Premier François Legault said that if things continue on their current track with regard to COVID-19 in the province, then the Government will likely be ready to announce the relaxation of some restrictions in some areas as of next week. The premier stopped short of specifying which measures would be changed, in what ways and in which areas, however, indicating that the changes, if they come, will only be detailed next week for implementation as of Feb. 8.