Four COVID-19 variant cases confirmed in Eastern Ontario Health Unit region

Four cases involving COVID-19 variants have been confirmed in the Eastern Ontario Health Unit region — three of which are among employees at the St. Albert Cheese Cooperative in St. Albert.

The EOHU said in a Friday announcement that these are the first cases of variants of concern in the region.

Health officials are now waiting on specific genetic testing to identify the exact variant types.

The fourth case has been identified in a separate single case in the region.

“While I am concerned about the presence of COVID-19 variants of concern in our region, I am not surprised as they are being detected across the province,” said Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, medical officer of health at the EOHU. “Seeing as these variants are much more contagious than the original strain of COVID-19, it is essential that we continue taking the precautions recommended by public health until a majority of the population is vaccinated.”

The EOHU said it is undertaking enhanced contact tracing protocols to identify the source of infection and any contacts for all four of these cases.

As part of its COVID-19 variants of concern outbreak investigation, the EOHU tested all employees at the St. Albert Cheese Cooperative on Thursday.

As a precaution, the cooperative closed the factory on Thursday. The factory will remain closed throughout the weekend.

Once test results return, the EOHU said it will collaborate with the factory to determine how to move forward.

The outbreak doesn’t present a risk to the general public, the unit added, and that all products produced at the factory are safe for consumption.