KFL&A Public Health discovers a COVID-19 ‘variant of concern’ in the Kingston area

A “variant of concern” has been discovered in a positive test for COVID-19 in a Kingston-area resident.

In a social media post on Saturday, KFL&A Public Health said “this case was an international traveller who is following the Federal Quarantine Act.”

Monday, the health unit said it will now take about three weeks to identify the exact variant of concern. The health unit would not identify where the person travelled to, but said the positive case was found Feb. 20.

There were three new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend. Two of those cases were reported on Saturday and one was reported on Sunday.

In response to the growing number of variant cases in Ontario, the province is enacting stricter health protocols, effective immediately.

There are three main changes. Firstly, household members of individuals who are experiencing symptoms of the virus must now isolate until the symptomatic individual receives negative test results or an alternative diagnosis from a health care provider.

Secondly, household members of high-risk contacts of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, must avoid any non-essential outings or gatherings for the duration of the high-risk contact’s isolation period.

And finally, new screening requirements are now in effect for children attending school and daycare, namely, children must be screened daily for symptoms of COVID-19.

If even one symptom of the virus is present (and not related to an existing medical condition), the child must be tested to rule out COVID-19.

These symptoms include fever, headache, nausea or a stuffy or runny nose.

Students with any one of a dozen symptoms are not to go to school, and are being directed to get a COVID-19 test.

According to the KFL&A Public Health dashboard, the region has reported a total of 709 cases, with 687 of those being resolved.