Ontario’s First Case Of The Brazil COVID-19 Variant Was Just Discovered in Toronto

Toronto Public Health (TPH) confirmed on Sunday, January 7 that the city has officially confirmed its first case of the Brazil COVID-19 virus variant, otherwise known as the P.1 variant.*

TPH put out a statement about the variant, which is thought to be more transmissible than the original COVID-19 virus.

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[TPH] is reporting that a Toronto resident has tested positive for [...] the Brazilian variant of concern.  Toronto Public Health

TPH has confirmed that the individual had just returned from a trip to Brazil and is currently hospitalized.

The city's public health unit is also confirming its first case of the South African variant, although an individual in Peel has already tested positive for this variant. 

The Toronto resident who has tested positive for the South African variant "has had no recent travel history and has had no known contact with anyone who is a returned traveller."

According to the health unit, "as of February 6, 2021, there are 27 confirmed variant of concern cases in Toronto."

Premier Doug Ford has previously called on the federal government to temporarily ban flights from countries where new variants are detected, including Brazil and Portugal.

Ontario's stay-at-home orders and state of emergency remain in effect.