Chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By Shaun Penner

After Virus Variant Found...

Province calls for travellers from United Kingdom to get tested for COVID-19

Dec 21, 2020 | 1:53 PM

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health is asking anyone in Alberta that has returned from the United Kingdom within the last 14 days to get tested for COVID-19.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw is strongly encouraging all those who have recently returned from the UK, whether they have symptoms or not, to immediately get tested.

This request comes after a new variant of the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, was discovered in the UK which has been found to be more contagious than the original.

“No variants with all the same mutations have been identified in Canada to date,” Hinshaw said in a release.

“Changes in a virus are to be expected, and there is no current evidence that this variant causes more severe disease. Alberta’s current public health measures are effective against it, but we are acting out of an abundance of caution.”

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The province says travellers will be contacted directly by Alberta Health Services to book a test. Travellers from the United Kingdom who are taking part in the border testing pilot must immediately quarantine, whether they have received a negative test or not.

“The nature of this pandemic requires us to be nimble and adapt to the evolving situation to ensure the health and safety of Albertans,”” adds Health minister Tyler Shandro.

READ MORE: ‘A bombshell’: Canadians stuck in U.K. face uncertainty after Canada shuts air travel

In response to the developments in the UK, the federal government has stopped all flights to Canada from the UK for the next 72 hours, starting midnight December 20.

The province reminds residents that all non-exempt travellers returning to or entering Alberta from outside Canada are legally required to follow provincial and federal travel restrictions upon arrival. Travellers must quarantine for 14 days, monitor for symptoms and get tested if any symptom develops.

(everythingGP)