By Troy Gillard

One case of U.K. variant not linked to travel

Shandro says new COVID-19 variants present ‘serious threat’

Jan 25, 2021 | 4:38 PM

Health Minister Tyler Shandro says Albertans aren’t immune from the impacts of new variants of COVID-19 circulating around the world.

“These new variants present a serious threat and a complicating factor when it comes to relaxing restrictions,” Shandro said on Monday.

“We need to continue to proceed cautiously recognizing health-care system still under significant strain. If we’re not careful our health-care could be in a dark situation within weeks and it would be very difficult to get things under control.”

In the last few months, several variants have been discovered, and two are of particular concern in Alberta – one first discovered in the United Kingdom and another in South Africa.

Shandro said the variants can spread very quickly, and emerging research indicates they have a significantly higher infection rate, estimated about “30-50 per cent higher than the strain that we’ve had in Alberta to date.”

mayor hopes to meet housing minister this month

Alberta demands Ottawa back off on housing funding stripped from Red Deer

23h ago

Last seen Jan. 15

Missing: Courtney Cattleman, 17, of Maskwacis

Apr 02, 2026

eyes up

Air Spray training around Red Deer Regional Airport

Apr 02, 2026

There are 20 cases of the U.K strain in Alberta and five of the South Africa strain and that virtually all are directly linked to international travel.

One case of the U.K. variant is so far not linked to travel.

“This means it may have entered the broader community. Let me be blunt. This is very concerning,” said Shandro.

There was a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in the U.K. and Ireland as the variants took hold there.

Shandro said health officials have been watching and shared projections on what Alberta could be dealing with if these variants became the dominant strain, saying he wants to provide “facts not fear” and that the projections provide important context.

Over six weeks, starting at 250 active cases and with no health measures in place, that number would rise to 2,217 with the current strain and to 10,217 if the variant strain becomes the dominant one.

Hospitalizations would rise from 1,073 to 3,611 over eight weeks and ICU admissions from about 200 to about 800 over seven weeks.

(With file from Chris Brown – CHAT News Today)