1st case of new COVID-19 variant found in Waterloo region

A woman in her 30s is Waterloo region's first case of the COVID-19 variant that was first detected in the U.K., public health says.

Public health officials were notified Thursday evening by Public Health Ontario about the case.

The woman has since recovered from the virus, the region said in a news release Friday morning.

"We are completing a further detailed investigation of the case and her contacts with respect to the U.K. variant and will share more information in the coming days," the region's release said.

The region's release says it's not unexpected to find the variant in the community because there are more than 50 cases in other health units across the province.

Experts say it appears this variant is more easily transmitted between people and potentially results in a more severe illness.

Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the region's medical officer of health, says the variant being in the region means people must follow public health measures to stop the spread of the virus.

That includes staying home, not hosting or attending social gatherings outside a person's immediate household, physically distance from other people, wear a face covering and wash hands often.

"Our continued commitment to public health measures is the best way to protect ourselves and loved ones against the spread of COVID-19, including the spread of the U.K. variant," Wang said in the release.

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