Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Marcus Powlowski has questions about the South African variant of coronavirus.
The member says it remains to be seen how effective the vaccines are against the B.1.351 variant, which medical experts have indicated does share some mutations with the B.1.1.7 variant out of the United Kingdom.
Powlowski says getting any strain of the virus is bad, especially if the general public isn’t heading the health guidelines.
“If you do the right things in terms of wearing masks, self isolating, those types of things it should protect you against the English variant [of coronavirus],” Powlowski remarked. “The greater concern is the South African variant where there are a lot more questions about whether the vaccines are as effective against that strain. It would seem that they are but there is a bit of uncertainty.”
In his availability Wednesday Powlowski notes he’s disappointed in the rising case numbers in Thunder Bay, further labelling the situation as unfortunate and worrisome.
“I certainly don’t see it as the time to start opening things up again, that’s for sure,” Powlowski stressed, when asked about the possibility of putting Thunder Bay in a stay at home order.
During the month of March Thunder Bay has compiled 885 cases of COVID-19, which averages out to just over 52 cases per day.
