Colorado officials are investigating a second “highly suspicious” but as yet unconfirmed case of a coronavirus variant potentially found in another COVID-19 positive patient.
Both the confirmed case of the coronavirus variant and the second potential case involve members of the Colorado National Guard who were sent to help the Good Samaritan Society’s nursing home in Simla, where there was a widespread outbreak of COVID-19.
Both individuals arrived at the nursing home on December 23 and tested positive on December 24. The positive tests were processed at the state laboratory, which was on alert for B.1.1.7. variant since it was first discovered in Britain. The laboratory is now conducting an investigation of residents and asylum staff, as the results of previous positive tests were processed in an external laboratory.
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Preliminary results do not indicate that the variant is circulating in the nursing home, officials said during a news conference on Wednesday.
Both the confirmed variant case and the suspected case were ordered to isolate for a period of 10 days while authorities conduct contact tracking and try to determine where the variant was taken from. The patient with the confirmed variant is experiencing mild symptoms.
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“There is a lot we don’t know about this new COVID-19 variant, but scientists in the UK are warning the world that it is significantly more contagious,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis. “The health and safety of Colorado’s residents is our top priority and we will closely monitor this case, as well as all COVID-19 indicators.”
Polis thanked the researchers at the state laboratory for identifying the variant, but noted that he believes “it is unlikely that you will be the first person with the variant here in the US”
He said that so far the researchers have found nothing to indicate that the variant may cause more serious symptoms, but it is believed to be more transmissible.
At the beginning of the press conference, Polis said that many areas of the state were entering Phase 1b of vaccine distribution and that, as of Wednesday, residents aged 70 and over would be eligible to receive the vaccine.
“Anyone aged 70 or over can now legally receive the vaccine,” said Polis, adding that 78% of COVID-19 deaths in the state involve people over 70.
He predicted that it will take about 4-5 weeks before anyone over 70 who wants the vaccine can receive the first dose.
Polis said the state is working with different employers to work on programs targeted at essential frontline workers, educators, food workers, grocery workers and others, including frontline journalists, to form a vaccination schedule. .