BC Is Apparently Dealing With The Biggest P.1 Variant Outbreak Outside Of Brazil

It's been spreading like wildfire in Whistler.
P1 Variant In BC: Whistler At The Centre Of Largest Outbreak Outside Of Brazil
Whistler Blackcomb | Facebook
Staff Writer

Many provinces in Canada are dealing with rising COVID-19 case counts, but one variant outbreak in B.C. is growing at an especially rapid rate. 

According to the Globe and Mail, the P.1 variant in B.C. is spreading so much that it's now the largest P.1 variant outbreak anywhere in the world outside of Brazil, where the variant was first detected.

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Between March 21 and March 27, B.C. reported that it had confirmed 872 cases of the P.1 variant, making up 15% of the province's entire case count from that week.

At the centre of the outbreak is Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort, which has now been fully closed until April 19 after a "worrisome cluster" of P.1 cases popped up in Whistler, according to Dr. Bonnie Henry.

In the week of March 22 to 28, the vast majority of Whistler's 218 COVID-19 cases — 83.2 percent — were in adults aged 20 to 39.

Health Canada has a robust website with all the latest information on the vaccines and can answer any questions you may have. Click here for more information.

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  • Cormac O'Brien
    Cormac O'Brien was an Associate Editor at Narcity Canada, covering all things exciting and trending about Canada. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Journalism from the University of Victoria, where he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the campus newspaper and was awarded the BCYNA Community News Scholarship for his writing. He was also the producer and co-host of Now On Narcity, Narcity's flagship podcast.

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