For the very first time, the South African variant of COVID-19 has been confirmed in the province. Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald confirmed the news during today’s live COVID briefing.

Whole-genome sequencing has identified one of the cases recently reported is the B1351 variant, which was first identified in South Africa. The case is travel-related and the person involved “properly self-isolated,” according to Dr. Fitzgerald. She is confident there was no onward transmission or danger to public safety.

Following a confirmed case that was announced on Tuesday, Public Health officials are advising passengers and crew who traveled on the Marine Atlantic ferry from North Sydney to Port aux Basques on Sunday, March 28 to arrange for COVID testing—”out of an abundance of caution.”

There is one new confirmed case of COVID-19 reported in the province today. It involves a woman in her 40s in the Eastern Health region and the source is under investigation. Contact tracing is underway.

There are two new recoveries, leaving three active cases in the province.