About the variants

Over time, the genetic material in a virus often changes through mutation, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur.

A variant is of concern when it impacts public health and clinical practice. It may affect:

  • disease spread (transmission)
  • severity of the disease
  • testing, or how the virus is detected
  • whether vaccines and treatments are effective

Four variants of the virus that causes (SARS-CoV-2) are of concern globally. They are:

  • Alpha (B.1.1.7) – first identified in the United Kingdom in November 2020
  • Beta (B.1.351) – first identified in South Africa in December 2020
  • Gamma (P.1) – first detected in travelers from Brazil who arrived in Japan in January 2021
  • Delta (B.1.617.2) – first detected in India in October 2020

Evidence has shown that these variants:

  • spread more easily (are more transmissible)
  • may cause more severe illness than the original strain of

Variants in Ontario

Currently, Ontario has confirmed cases of all four variants.

Reporting shows that the Delta variant is the dominant strain of the virus in the province. This poses an increased threat to:

  • controlling the pandemic
  • Ontarians’ health
  • public health and health system capacity

Ontario’s 6-point variant action plan

Ontario’s six-point plan to immediately address variants of concern enhances the existing coordinated and ongoing efforts of the province to detect, track, trace and contain the spread of .

The 6-point plan includes:

1. Mandatory testing for travellers

As of February 1, 2021, testing is mandatory for all international travellers when they arrive at the Toronto Pearson International Airport.

2. Enhanced screening and sequencing

Screening

All COVID-19 tests are screened for the four known variants . This will identify if any of the variants are present and enable health officials to quickly take action.

Sequencing

In coordination with Public Health Ontario, we conduct whole genome sequencing for a growing percentage of positive tests, effective February 17, 2021. Sequencing identifies:

  • which variant is present
  • any emerging or unknown variants

3. Maintaining public health measures

Given the emerging evidence that the variants of concern are more transmissible and may cause more severe illness, we are:

  • maintaining appropriate and effective public health measures to protect Ontarians’ health
  • stepping up inspections to make sure employers have enough personal protective equipment (PPE) and the proper protections in place to keep staff, customers and the general public safe

4. Strengthening case and contact management

We continue to support public health units to ensure people who have tested positive for or who have been exposed to (cases and contacts) are:

  • reached as soon as possible
  • monitored through their quarantine period

Requirements for contacts

If you were in contact with someone with a confirmed case of , even if you do not have symptoms you should:

  • repeat testing on or after day 10 of your quarantine
  • stay home (except for essential reasons) if someone in your household tests positive for and is quarantining, until they receive a negative test result

5. Enhancing protections for vulnerable populations

Prioritizing vaccinations

Ontario’s accelerated vaccine rollout has allowed us to provide more vaccinations ahead of schedule, while supporting communities most at risk.

Learn about Ontario’s vaccine rollout.

Antigen screening

We have introduced a provincial antigen screening program to expand rapid testing in high priority settings, such as:

  • long-term care homes
  • retirement homes
  • essential workplaces
  • schools
  • congregate living settings
  • rural and remote communities, including Indigenous communities

6. Leveraging data

We are using integrated data and deep analytics to drive decision-making and inform planning related to the pandemic response. In collaboration with DNAstack and other external partners, we are establishing a genomics databank and real-time analytics dashboard.

This will enhance our capacity to identify known and emerging variants of .

What you can do

With the potential of new variants spreading, more than ever it’s important to continue following all public health and workplace safety measures to help stop the spread of .

This means you should:

  • get vaccinated with your first dose, if you have not already, and book your appointment to receive your second dose as soon as possible
  • get tested if you think you have COVID-19
  • maintain physical distancing of two metres from anyone you don’t live with
  • wear a mask or face covering in indoor public spaces and outdoors within two metres of anyone you do not live with (with limited exceptions)
  • wash your hands regularly and thoroughly
  • follow workplace measures, including infection prevention and control and using personal protective equipment

You can also download the COVID Alert mobile app to protect yourself and your community.