PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Health Services officials say a variant of COVID-19 that was first discovered in the UK has now been detected in Arizona.
According to a statement released on January 29, officials say they have detected variant B.1.1.7 in three state test samples.
“It is not known how widely the variant may have spread in Arizona,” says part of the statement released by AZDHS.
According to the CDC website, variant B.1.1.7, also known by the names 20I / 501Y.V1 and VOC 202012/01, has come up with a large number of mutations, and this variant can spread more quickly. It was first reported in the United States in late December 2020.
AZDHS officials say it is normal for viruses to change through mutations, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur over time.
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Symptoms of covid19
Symptoms of the COVID-19 coronavirus include fever, cough and shortness of breath. These, of course, are similar to the common cold and the flu.
A common cold can be expected to start with a sore or itchy sore, cough, runny and / or stuffy nose. Flu symptoms are more intense and usually come on suddenly, including high fever.
The symptoms of COVID-19 may appear more slowly. They usually include fever, dry cough and noticeable shortness of breath, according to the World Health Organization. A minority of cases develop pneumonia, and the disease is of particular concern to the elderly and those with other medical conditions, such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes or heart problems.
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COVID-19 Features
Why social detachment can save lives amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Social detachment is not just to prevent the disease itself, but, on the contrary, to decrease the rate of illness of people.
CDC website for COVID-19
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus
https://espanol.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html (in Spanish / en Español)
AZDHS website for COVID-19
https://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/infectious-disease-epidemiology/index.php#novel-coronavirus-home
https://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/infectious-disease-epidemiology/es/covid-19/index.php#novel-coronavirus-home (in Spanish / en Español)