The UK variant of COVID-19 may be in South Simcoe.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit was informed on the weekend by Public Health Ontario Laboratory an individual with the UK variant had close contact with a person who is also part of the outbreak at Bradford Valley Care Community long term care home.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr Charles Gardner say the health unit is working in partnership with Bradford Valley to implement additional measures to contain the spread while pursuing the necessary tests to determine if the UK variant is the cause of this outbreak.
The outbreak was declared at Bradford Valley Care Community January 14th.
The health unit has reported 6 residents and 3 staff have tested positive while about 60% staff and 96% of residents at Bradford Valley have received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
40 residents and 1 essential visitor have died during an outbreak at Roberta Place Retirement Village in Barrie where cases of the UK variant have been confirmed.
