Dr. Tam Says COVID-19 Variants May Already Be Spreading Through Community Transmission

The number of variant cases is still low in Canada, though.
COVID-19 Variants In Canada Might Already Be Spreading Through Community Transmission
justinpjtrudeau | Instagram Bobhilscher | Dreamstime
Senior Writer

According to Dr. Theresa Tam, COVID-19 variants in Canada might already be spreading through community transmission.

The country's top doctor put out a statement on January 20 that touched on the emergence of virus variants around the world and how they're spreading in Canada.

Editor's Choice: Barack Obama Just Congratulated Joe Biden With The Sweetest Message (PHOTO)

To ensure that virus variants that can spread more easily do not take hold, there is even greater urgency to suppress COVID-19 activity in Canada. Dr. Theresa Tam

She said that it's common for new variants to pop up as viruses spread.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is monitoring the emergence of variants in order to identify ones that are concerning internationally and in Canada.

Dr. Tam said the number of Canadian cases that have been identified as a variant of concern is limited, but "community transmission may already be occurring" as people who tested positive recently had no travel history.

She noted that public health measures are still effective against these new variants, even though some can spread more easily.

Dr. Tam also said that "there is even greater urgency to suppress COVID-19 activity in Canada" to make sure that variants don't surge.

Recently, Justin Trudeau said that every Canadian who wants a COVID-19 vaccine will get one by September.

covid-19
CanadaNews
  • Lisa Belmonte

    Senior Writer

    Lisa Belmonte (she/her) is a Senior Writer with Narcity Media. After graduating with a Bachelor of Journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), she joined the Narcity team. Lisa covers news and notices from across the country from a Canada-wide perspective. Her early coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic earned Narcity its first-ever national journalism award nomination.

CRA offers automatic tax filing and it could help 'put more money in your pocket'

You could be eligible for the service without even knowing it.

2 Canadian tourists have died in a bus crash in the Dominican Republic

13 other Canadians were injured in the crash.

Canadian passport fees are going up this month and you'll pay more to get the travel document

"Fees for travel documents will be adjusted each year to align with inflation."

Parks Canada is hiring for high-paying jobs with salaries up to $129K a year and $41 an hour

Some jobs are in national parks! 🏞️

I moved to Toronto and discovered the worst thing about renting here (it's not the prices)

It's not for the weak!

I moved from Vancouver to Toronto and my closet went through culture shock

How to dress like a Torontonian. 👇

Mark Carney got publicly called out by a Liberal MP for his support of Iran strikes (VIDEO)

Liberal MP Will Greaves released a video openly criticizing Carney's stance.

Gene-edited pork has been approved in Canada but labels aren't mandatory

It's the only genetically modified meat approved for sale in Canada.

Ontario's safest cities for driving were revealed and you might not expect the top locations

It's based on accidents and infractions like distracted driving and speeding. 🚗

Foreign investment in Canada just hit its highest level in nearly 20 years

StatCan says more than half of last year's foreign investment came from the U.S.