Nine COVID-19 cases with a “variant of concern” found locally

Journal Staff Nine people have contracted a COVID-19 variant of concern, with two of the cases linked to an Alvinston elementary school, Lambton Public Health said today.

Journal Staff

Nine people have contracted a COVID-19 variant of concern, with two of the cases linked to an Alvinston elementary school, Lambton Public Health said today.

Three of those who have tested positive for a variant of concern were found to be in close contacts of each other. Five other cases are under investigation.

A ninth case involves an individual with a permanent address in Lambton County but who currently lives in another district.

More cases are expected, the health unit said.

An outbreak was declared at Brooke Central elementary school Wednesday after six people associated with the school tested positive for COVID-19. Two of them had a variant of concern.

As a result, the school has been instructed to transition to online learning for 14 days, at which time it will be re-assessed.

“We regret the disruption this may cause families,” said Dr. Sudit Ranade, Lambton’s Medical Officer of Health, who added health officials are working with the Lambton Kent District School Board to reduce the risk of further transmission.

Health experts expected the virus that causes COVID-19 to mutate over time. Multiple variants have been documented globally, and not all of them are a concern.

A “variant of concern” has changes that cause the virus to act differently, such as the ability to spread more easily.

Scientists are trying to determine whether they cause milder or more severe disease in people, and if they change the effectiveness of COVID‐19 vaccines.

Meanwhile, the local Immunization Task Force is preparing for the launch of a new provincial online booking system expected to open to the public on March 15.

Adults 80 years of age and older will be able to book vaccination appointments once the new system goes live.

For more, visit – https://covid-19.ontario.ca/getting-covid-19-vaccine-ontario

Since the local vaccine rollout began on Jan, 26 about 8,600 first doses and 814 second doses of vaccine have been given in Lambton County, the task force said.

Lambton Public Health reported another 28 new cases today, with eight outbreaks and 152 active cases, up 14 from Wednesday.