Testing has confirmed that the strain of COVID-19 responsible for an outbreak in Central Newfoundland is the B.1617.2 variant—first identified in India.
The variant is more easily transmissible—even more so than the B117 variant responsible for the outbreak in metro in February.
There are four new confirmed cases in the province today, two in Central and two in Western Health.
That brings to 46 the total number of cases linked to the Central cluster with two presumptive positive and one probable case.
Six people are now in hospital, according to Health Minister John Haggie.
Four people are hospitalized with COVID-19 in the Central region and two are in the Eastern Health region. He says there remains capacity for both “conventional” COVID hospitalizations, and the ICU in the Central region.
The region will remain under Alert Level 4 for the time being, says Dr. Janice Fitzgerald. When the area moves to another alert level will depend on a number of factors.
People must get tested, adhere to self-isolation directives, and follow public health recommendations, says Fitzgerald. “If cases continue to spread, it will prolong moving out of Alert Level 4.”
