Canadian officials ‘monitoring’ new COVID-19 variant as calls grow for new border restrictions

As federal officials prepare to provide an update on the COVID-19 pandemic Friday afternoon, the country’s transport minister says officials are 'monitoring the situation' as concerns grow over a new variant of the coronavirus.

“I just want to reassure you, and reassure all Canadians as they’ve seen all along, our government has been taking decisive and strict measures at our borders to protect Canadians,” Omar Alghabra told reporters on his way into the House of Commons on Friday.

He said officials are “currently in discussions and monitoring what’s happening.”

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Alghabra said these discussions include “what measures we can implement.