The Grey Bruce Health Unit has confirmed its first known case of the delta variant strain of COVID-19 that has been widespread and deadly in India.
The person infected with the delta variant (B.1.617.2) has now recovered and the case is no longer considered active.
The case was part of an outbreak declared by the health unit at a rooming house in Hanover. There are currently 25 cases and 38 high-risk contacts associated with the outbreak.
An on-site emergency management unit has been set up at the rooming house, located at 315 10th St. in Hanover, and the unit includes mobile trailers and a daily response team including EMS, addiction and mental health professionals, food provision, primary care, and multiple consulting agencies, according to a news release from the health unit.
Because the delta variant is only identified through provincial surveillance testing, it takes between 10 and 14 days for results to return. Grey Bruce Health Unit reported that about 10 per cent of all positive cases in Ontario are tested for the delta variant.
In neighbouring Simcoe-Muskoka, the region's health unit has reported 15 confirmed cases of the delta variant.
