Quebec Has Confirmed Its First Case Of A New Indian COVID-19 Variant

The case was found in the Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec region.
Quebec Has Confirmed Its First Case Of A New Indian COVID-19 Variant
Marc Bruxelle | Dreamstime
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Quebec has confirmed its first case of a new COVID-19 virus variant, B.1.617, which was identified in India. 

The CIUSSS de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec (MCQ) told MTL Blog that the B.1.617 COVID-19 variant strain is the first of its kind in the province, and that it was found in the Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec region.

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The Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) told MTL Blog the variant strain was detected through laboratory sequencing. 

According to Geneviève Jauron, chief of external communications for the CIUSSS MCQ, the individual was already in self-isolation due to contact with a member of their household who had tested positive for COVID-19.

"The epidemiological investigation was conducted as soon as the case was confirmed positive," Jauron said.

The Direction de santé publique de la Mauricie et du Centre-du-Québec has resumed its epidemiological investigation to identify the origin of this variant.

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  • Lea Sabbah
  • Lea Sabbah
    Lea Sabbah was a Staff Writer for MTL Blog. Previously, Lea was a radio host on CJLO 1690 AM and her work has been published by Global News, the Toronto Star, Le Devoir and the National Observer. In 2019, she was part of the investigative team that uncovered lead in Montreal's drinking water — a story which won Quebec's Grand Prix Judith-Jasmin. She's a graduate of the journalism program at Concordia University.

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