The number of new cases reported daily across the country is continuing to trend down, Tam said in a statement. But she warned that these trends could reverse quickly and that new variants "could rapidly accelerate transmission of COVID-19 in Canada." "It is crucial," she added, "that strong measures are kept in place in order to maintain a steady downward trend." In Ontario, which reported 1,265 new COVID-19 cases and 33 more deaths on Monday, Health Minister Christine Elliott said "variants of concern" are spreading in the province and all positive COVID-19 tests in Ontario are now being screened for known variants.