ont Ontario couple faces charges over 1st Canadian cases of new COVID-19 strain, detected only by fluke 'Coincidental' testing spotted U.K. variant, Public Health Ontario says The first known cases in Canada of a variant of the coronavirus first reported in the U.K. were discovered only by fluke, and the couple who fell ill are now facing public-health charges, CBC News has learned. The woman and man, from Durham Region east of Toronto, had contact with a traveller from the U.K. prior to falling ill, the provincial Health Ministry said last month. But the ministry also indicated the man and woman initially withheld that information. "Additional investigation and follow-up case and contact management has revealed that the couple had indeed been in contact with a recent traveller from the U.K., which is new information not provided in earlier interviews," the ministry said in a Dec. 27 statement, one day after it said the couple had had "no known travel history, exposure or high-risk contacts." The Durham Region Health Department confirmed to CBC News that both are facing charges, but would not comment further on the case, citing that the matter is before the courts. The couple has not been named publicly. It was only by accident that the coronavirus variant, first reported in the U.K. in December and known as B117, was found in the couple, according to Public Health Ontario. Currently, if someone tests positive for the more common coronavirus in Ontario, their sample is assessed for the B117 strain in only a few circumstances. According to Public Health Ontario, those include if the person recently travelled outside Canada or have been in contact with someone who did.

ontario Ontario issues stay-at-home order as COVID-19 models show province is at 'dangerous point' Province reported another 2,903 cases of COVID-19 and 41 more deaths Tuesday The Ontario government has announced a provincial stay-at-home order and new restrictions, as new COVID-19 modelling revealed Tuesday shows the health-care system is on the verge of being overwhelmed. The province says it is issuing the stay-at-home order effective Thursday at 12:01 a.m., which will require everyone to remain at home with exceptions for essential purposes, like going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services, for exercise or for essential work. "Our province is in crisis," Premier Doug Ford said. "The system is on the brink of collapse. It's on the brink of being overwhelmed." The province says it is enacting the following measures, which will come into effect between today and Thursday: Outdoor organized public gatherings and social gatherings are further restricted to a limit of five people with limited exceptions. People are required to wear a mask or face covering in the indoor areas of businesses or organizations that are open. Wearing a mask or face covering is now recommended outdoors when you can't physically distance more than two metres. All non-essential retail stores, including hardware stores, alcohol retailers, and those offering curbside pickup or delivery, must open no earlier than 7 a.m. and close no later than 8 p.m. The restricted hours of operation do not apply to stores that primarily sell food, pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores, and restaurants for takeout or delivery. Non-essential construction is further restricted, including below-grade construction, exempting survey. "Community transmission is widespread. It's in our hospitals, it's in our long-term care homes, and it's in our workplaces," Health Minister Christine Elliott said Tuesday.