First U.K. COVID-19 variant case detected in B.C.

British Columbia health officials are reporting the province's first knowncase of the U.K. COVID-19 variant.

The affected individual returned from the U.K. on Dec. 15 to their home in the Island Health authority.

The person tested positive four days later after developing symptoms during their quarantine.

Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say in a joint statement that the variant strain was detected through testing by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.

They say it's important to note that although the U.K. variant can spread faster, there's no indication that it's more deadly than other strains or that the Health Canada-approved vaccines will be less effective at preventing it.

Further review may identify more cases, and Dix and Henry urged residents to continue to avoid all non-essential travel.