Premier Doug Ford is looking on the federal authorities to impose stronger border measures equivalent to banning flights and passengers from nations the place a brand new COVID-19 variant of concern has been detected in South Africa.
“We can not repeat the identical errors that allowed the Alpha and Delta variants to enter our nation. Our greatest protection proper now’s stopping this variant on the border,” Ford mentioned in an announcement issued Friday.
On Thursday, South African scientists instructed reporters they detected a brand new variant — known as B.1.1.529 — that has a “very uncommon constellation” of mutations, that are regarding as a result of they may assist it evade the physique’s immune response and make it extra transmissible.
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New COVID-19 variant recognized in South Africa has scientists involved
Britain and the EU have tightened border controls and imposed journey restrictions to the world.
Ford mentioned after being briefed by Ontario’s chief medical officer of well being Dr. Kieran Moore in regards to the new variant that he has contacted the federal authorities to precise “my excessive concern in regards to the danger it poses and the necessity for rapid motion.”
“Till we will be sure that the vaccines are efficient in opposition to this new variant, I’m calling on the Authorities of Canada to comply with different governments by instantly banning all flights and passengers from nations of concern,” Ford continued.
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New COVID-19 variant has nations stopping air journey from southern Africa
Early indicators from diagnostic laboratories recommend the variant has quickly elevated in essentially the most populous South African province of Gauteng and should already be current within the nation’s different eight provinces, they mentioned.
South Africa has confirmed round 100 specimens as B.1.1.529, however the variant has additionally been present in Botswana and Hong Kong, with the Hong Kong case involving a traveller from South Africa. As many as 90 per cent of recent instances in Gauteng could possibly be B.1.1.529, scientists consider.
In the meantime, Ford mentioned anybody arriving must be examined and quarantined, together with passengers arriving as early as Friday.
“Out of an abundance of warning, we should additionally reintroduce point-of-arrival testing for all passengers arriving to Canada, no matter the place they’re coming from,” Ford mentioned.
“I’ve requested the Chief Medical Officer of Well being and Public Well being Ontario to instantly implement expanded surveillance and replace situation planning to make sure we’re prepared for any consequence.”
— with recordsdata from Reuters.
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