PHOENIX – A coronavirus variant first detected in the UK arrived in Arizona, according to sources, at ABC15.
Sources warned ABC15 on Friday that the variant, which was easier to spread from person to person, was detected in our state and that authorities are in contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about its arrival.
The state is expected to release more information about the variant sometime on Friday.
Preliminary data from the UK suggests that the coronavirus variant detected in that country last fall could be more deadly, according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The evidence supposedly comes from analyzing trends in the number of people dying with the UK variant compared to the old variants. The BBC reports that the new variant appears to be about 30% more deadly.
He was first identified in England in September and became the dominant lineage there within a few months, which led to further blockade measures by the British government.
Earlier this month, the CDC warned that the UK variant could spread to the United States in March.
Good news is that some vaccines still seem to protect against some variants, including the UK variant.