COVID-19 variants in the province.The number of active variant cases dropped to 266 Wednesday from 588 on Tuesday, but the concern remains high around the province.Henry said the B.1.1.7 strain, which was first discovered in the U.K., is dominant in B.C., but that in the last few weeks there has been an increase in the P.1 variant, which was first discovered in Brazil.“Cases have surged and people are having a much higher number of contacts, and that has meant increased numbers of people in hospital,” Henry said.“We know much of this transmission is happening in younger people, so that means numbers of younger people in hospital has increased, and numbers of younger people needing ICU care has increased, and that is concerning.”UBC.