Canada actually has been at quite a high level compared to other countries in terms of doing our genomic sequencing and surveillance for variants. We are sequencing a lot more virus than any other country, and we have been able to detect the variants across Canada. All provinces and territories are able to detect for themselves or access support from the National Microbiology Laboratory to do this. We have actually quite good visibility as to where the variants are in this country.
Why we are concerned and why we call them “variants of concern” is because they spread more readily. You have to be much more careful with your measures. We know that public health measures work, and we've seen it in the United Kingdom, Ireland and other countries that have had these variants of concern. We know what to do across Canada. The important thing is that, from the local level up, things have to be applied rapidly—as quickly as possible—to control the spread. The method is not different; we just have to be more stringent.