Did You Know... Variants of Concern
April 12, 2021 | Prairies
You may have heard a lot about “variants of concern”, but what exactly are they? Variants of concern, or VOCs, are different genetic versions of a virus, such as COVID-19, and this is a common and expected phenomenon.
However, variants of concern can be very dangerous to your health. The COVID-19 variants of concern are highly transmissible (meaning they spread more easily from person to person) and can cause a more severe illness to anyone who is infected—including young and otherwise healthy individuals.
The good news is... you can protect yourself from getting infected with COVID-19 and variants of concern by following all of the same public health guidelines you are already familiar with:
- Wear a properly fitted, triple-layer mask.
- Stay distanced (2 meters or farther) from anyone who is not from your household.
- Wash your hands frequently and effectively.
- Stay home when you are sick. If you have symptoms, get tested.
- Minimize contact with individuals you do not live with as much as possible. Do not engage in unnecessary trips outside of your house. Currently in Alberta, indoor gatherings are not allowed—these are one of the biggest methods of transmission. Even brief interactions can be very risky when it comes to variants of concern.
- Sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you are eligible, and don’t forget to book your second appointment. For more information, please see: https://www.alberta.ca/covid19-vaccine.aspx.
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