FAIRFIELD, CT – A Fairfield student who tested positive for coronavirus in late January had the new, more contagious variant of the disease in the UK, officials said on Friday.
“I want to remind students and staff to remain cautious, especially since the COVID-19 B117 (UK) variant has been identified in Connecticut,” said Superintendent Mike Cummings on Friday in a message to parents. “It is important that everyone continues to wear their mask, wash their hands and keep a safe distance from those who are out and about.”
The student who contracted the variant completed the isolation and everyone in contact with the student was quarantined, said Cummings. The school district will not disclose the school the student attends, according to communications director Andrea Clark.
“The Department of Health has consulted the CT Department of Public Health and no further action is needed at this time,” said Cummings, adding that 42 people in the state had tested positive for the UK variant.
Despite the presence of the variant, data on the virus is decreasing, with fewer hospitalizations and deaths, according to Cummings and first counselor Brenda Kupchick, who also discussed the case of B117 in her weekly email to residents.
From January 31 to February 6, Fairfield saw 103 confirmed cases of coronavirus, compared with 192 confirmed cases in the week of December 27 to January 2, according to city data. The Fairfield Department of Health administered 6,958 vaccines, with an additional 4,700 consultations scheduled for February.
Since the pandemic hit Connecticut last March, Fairfield has reported 3,942 cases and 194 residents have died in association with the virus. In the Fairfield school district, 374 students and 108 employees recovered from the virus. Another 10 students and two team members tested positive recently.