Variants of the COVID-19 virus are making up an increasing number of the London region's overall daily cases.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Chris Mackie confirmed Monday that ‘variants of concern’ accounted for between 20 and 30 per cent of new cases confirmed in the area last week. That is a significant jump from the past couple of weeks when between zero and five per cent of all cases were identified as variants.
"That is definitely a significant development and is part of why we are seeing our case counts climb again," Mackie said.
Twenty-seven new COVID-19 cases were reported Monday, the region's highest daily case count since February 13.
There are currently three different variants circulating in Canada and internationally – the U.K. variant known as B.1.1.7., the South African variant known as B.1.351, and the Brazil variant, P.1. They are more troubling than the original strain of COVID-19 as the variants spread more easily from person-to-person.
Mackie stressed the increase variant activity makes it more important than ever for residents to be vigilant in following public health measures such as wearing a mask, physical distancing, and staying home as much as possible.
"The variant cases we have detected lately have not been linked to travel. These are locally acquired," said Mackie. "About two-thirds of our variant cases at this point have been linked to close contact with a positive case. We are really seeing the number of contacts per case go up which is a sign that people are gathering more indoors. Those are close contacts were people are unmasked and that is exactly the sort of situation where we expect spread to occur."
Nine new COVID-19 cases involving variants have been reported in the region since last Thursday, for a total of 21. Mackie said two additional variant cases will appear in Tuesday's daily report.
The effort to vaccinate seniors 80 and over in the community is continuing. To date, roughly 20,000 people in the 80-plus group have booked appointments to get the shot at vaccination clinics at the Western Fair Agriplex in London and the Caradoc Community Centre in Mt. Brydges.
Mackie was quick to remind those being inoculated that immunity does not take effect immediately after the shot is administered.
"No vaccine provides immunity the day it is received. It takes at least two weeks to have any significant immunity and in the case of the COVID vaccines that exact same pattern is the case," said Mackie. "You do not have adequate protection until about 12 to 14 days after your first dose."
