完整標題：Ontario identifies first cases of COVID-19 U.K. variant in the provinc
e
發稿單位：Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
發稿時間：Dec 26, 2020 3:57 PM ET
撰 稿 者：Sara Jabakhanji
原文連結：
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-confirms-first-cases-covid19-uk-v
ariant-1.5855361
https://reurl.cc/8nQ6mM
因為新聞很長，所以我做簡單摘要：
這兩位患者無出國紀錄，無接觸過高風險族群史（換句話說：加拿大境內感染，無法追溯源
頭及疫調）。
德翰區域在多倫多市東側。
變種病毒無更高危險性。
聯邦政府會加強對英國入境人士的邊境控管。確定各機場執行入境健康問卷及普篩，加上14
天居家自我隔離。以及暫停所有英國入境航班。
安大略省已經執行封省，未來會更加強落實執行。甚至違規者有可能面對罰金及六個月監禁
。
Ontario announced on Saturday its first two confirmed cases in the province of t
he COVID-19 variant, first identified in the United Kingdom.
Ontario is the first province to identify the new COVID-19 variant.
The confirmed cases identified are from a couple from Durham Region with no know
n travel history, exposure or high-risk contacts, Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontario's a
ssociate chief medical officer of health, said in a news release on Saturday. D
urham Region is east of Toronto.
Both individuals have been informed and are now in self-isolation as per public
health protocols, it said.
"This further reinforces the need for Ontarians to stay home as much as possible
and continue to follow all public health advice, including the provincewide shu
tdown measures beginning today," Yaffe said.
CBC EXPLAINS
What Canadians need to know about the coronavirus variant in Ontario
"Durham Region Health Department has conducted case and contact investigation an
d Ontario is working in collaboration with our federal counterparts at the Publi
c Health Agency of Canada."
The variant has now been detected in multiple countries beyond Britain, includi
ng Denmark, Belgium, Australia and the Netherlands.
With inbound international travel, it is not unexpected to have identified the n
ew variant in Ontario, the news release said.
No evidence new variant more severe: PHAC
The federal government currently has a monitoring program in place with the pr
ovinces and territories to identify new COVID-19 variants in the country, such
as the ones identified in the United Kingdom and South Africa.
"While early data suggests that these new variants may be more transmissible, to
date there is no evidence that they cause more severe disease or have any impac
t on antibody response or vaccine effectiveness," the Public Health Agency of Ca
nada (PHAC) said in a statement on Saturday.
"More research is required to confirm these findings, and the Canadian and globa
l medical, public health and research communities are actively evaluating these
mutations."
As monitoring continues, PHAC says it is expected that other cases of this vari
ant, along with other variants of concern, will be found in Canada.
"Furthermore, as these two cases did not travel outside of Canada, it is importa
nt to follow public health measures and limit contacts with others, to reduce th
e transmission of the virus and any of its variants in communities," it said.
"Recognizing the potential increased risk that inbound international travellers
may pose with this new variant, the province continues to call on the federal go
vernment to urgently partner with Ontario to implement testing at Toronto Pearso
n International Airport."
Earlier this week, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the federal government wasn't
doing enough to protect Ontario from international travellers, suggesting they'r
e a problematic source of COVID-19 spread in the province.
However, based on the provincial government's own statistics, travel-related CO
VID-19 cases represent a small number of infections.
Less than 2 per cent of all COVID-19 cases reported in Canada have been a res
ult of international travel, according to PHAC.
"Regardless of whether federal support is forthcoming, the Ontario government is
prepared to act on its own to implement an airport testing program," the provin
cial news release said.
"We hope this troubling news invites [the federal government] to reconsider the
ir position," the office for Ontario's Minister of Health Christine Elliott wrot
e in an emailed statement to CBC News.
"We've long stood ready to work in partnership to implement enhanced testing but
will do so alone if needed."
Travellers now face additional health screening
The federal government halted all flights arriving from the United Kingdom on De
c. 20 until Jan. 6, 2021, in response to concerns about the COVID-19 variant.
All travellers are now being asked additional health screening questions to help
identify whether their travel itinerary included a country of concern. They als
o must now present their quarantine plan to the Quarantine Officer at the point
of entry to Canada, and those with an inadequate plan will be directed to a fed
eral quarantine facility, PHAC says.
PHAC said it also monitors travellers' compliance with quarantine and uses law
enforcement officers to verify compliance during the 14-day quarantine.
Individuals who are not complying with the quarantine requirements can face fin
es of up to $750,000 or six months in jail.
"Travellers who arrived in Canada from a country of concern prior to Dec. 20 ar
e reminded to complete their full quarantine period and to get tested even if s
ymptoms are mild and report their travel history to local assessment centres," P
HAC said in the statement.
Ontario under provincewide lockdown
Ontario entered a provincewide lockdown at 12:01 a.m. on Boxing Day in a bid to
curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The province has reported more than 2,000 cases 12 days in a row, including 2,14
2 new positive tests on Saturday and 2,159 cases on Christmas Day.
During those days, Ontario reported 81 additional deaths.
The new measures mean restaurants in the province can only provide takeout drive
-through and delivery.
Meanwhile, the provincial government is continuing to urge Ontarians to not gath
er for holidays and to follow public health guidelines.