Volume 8 • 2021 • Issue 2

C OVID-19 variants that originally emerged in South Africa, the UK, and Brazil have been detected in Canada. These variants appear to be more contagious and less responsive to at least one of the current COVID vaccines. In dental offices, we need to continue the protocols that have successfully prevented transmission of COVID. We also need to remain vigilant in our personal lives. In February, CDA developed a bilingual, two-part poster series, including talking tips and notes for team meetings at your practice, to help raise awareness of the importance of continued vigilance as new COVID variants emerge. The new COVID variants posters and huddle notes are available to dentists via their provincial dental association. A WHO Director-General’s report was adopted in January, calling for more resources and political will to achieve better oral health as part of the WHO’s universal health coverage (UHC) and non- communicable disease (NCD) agenda. The report sets clear directions and acknowledges the significant challenges to global oral health, including lack of funding and political priority despite the fact that oral diseases are some of the most common and affect 3.5 billion people. The WHO and its member states are now tasked with developing a global strategy, action plan and monitoring framework for oral health, aligned with its UHC and NCD agendas. The last time the WHO passed a resolution related to oral health was 2007. World Health Organization Recommits to Oral Health Access the full WHO report: apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/ EB148/B148_8-en.pdf New COVIDVariants Require ContinuedVigilance Learn more about CDA’s COVID-related activities and support for dentists at: cda-adc.ca/covid There are new COVID variants in Canada and they’re even more contagious Protect yourself.Protect others.Avoid the spread of COVID-19 in this office by continuing to social distance,and use PPE, both at work and in your personal life. Your vigilance matters. Now, more than ever. 17 Issue 2 | 2021 |