Better life
The UK’s COVID strain is now in these 15 states
A new strain of coronavirus found in the UK in December has wreaked havoc across the lake, forcing the country into another confinement on January 4. As researchers rush to find out more about this new variant, known as B.1.1. 7, scientists confirmed that it is much more transmissible than the previous dominant strain, probably by 50 percent. Due to its contagious character, it is not surprising that the new strain has spread rapidly in more than 30 other countries, including the United States. So far, the UK strain has been found in 15 states, a number that is likely to grow – on Friday, January 15, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicted that the UK strain will become the dominant variant in the USA within two months. Read on to find out more about the cases found in these states so far, and for more news about the mutation, Dr. Fauci has just published this severe alert about the COVID strain in the UK. Read the original article on Best Life. 1 Utah On January 15, the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) confirmed the first case of the UK variant in the state. The patient is a 25-44 year old man from Salt Lake County who tested positive last month, who did not travel outside Utah and showed only mild symptoms. The UK variant was identified through ongoing genetic sequencing at the Utah Public Health Laboratory for positive samples of COVID-19. “We anticipated that we would find this strain in Utah,” Angela Dunn, MD, a UDOH state epidemiologist, said in a statement. “We know that this strain is more transmissible than previous variants of COVID-19 and our hospitals continue to operate close to or above capacity. So now more than ever, Utah residents need to wear masks, practice physical distance and avoid great meetings. ” And for more ways to stay safe, stop doing it immediately to avoid the new COVID strain, doctors warn. 2 New Mexico On January 13, New Mexico identified its first case of the UK coronavirus strain. According to the New Mexico Department of Health, a man in his 60s who recently traveled to the UK in December tested positive for the coronavirus variant B.1.1.7. “He is recovering from a very mild illness; no hospitalization was necessary,” the health department said in a statement. 3 Nebraska Last week, the Nebraska chief physician predicted that the UK variant was in the state. “We can all say with some certainty that it is more likely … here in Nebraska,” Gary Anthone, MD, said – and now, it has been confirmed. According to data from the January 15 CDC, Nebraska confirmed a case of B.1.1.7. variant. And to find out more about where the virus is spreading, check out how bad the COVID outbreak is in your state. Wisconsin Wisconsin is one of the last states to have identified the UK variant, according to a statement by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) on January 13. The state identified the new strain “through continuous surveillance and complete genome sequencing,” they said. However, DHS declined to disclose how many patient samples were found with the strain or where it was located within the state, the Journal Times reported. According to the CDC, only one case has been confirmed. 5 Maryland Maryland Governor Larry Hogan confirmed on January 12 that two Maryland residents had tested positive for the new COVID strain. Both cases came from a couple who live in the same house in Anne Arundel County. Before the couple’s infection, one of the spouses traveled internationally, noted Hogan. And if you’re trying to stay safe, CDC says: do these 7 things every day to avoid COVID. 6 Indiana Indiana identified the new COVID strain from the United Kingdom on January 11, according to a statement from the state health department. “It is common for viruses to mutate and we are seeing this happening with COVID-19,” said state health doctor Kris Box, in a statement. “As this strain of the virus can be transmitted more easily, it is more important than ever that Hoosiers continue to wear their masks, practice social detachment, maintain good hygiene and be vaccinated when they are eligible.” 7 Minnesota Minnesota recently reported on the new COVID strain, but it is actually the first state to identify it. According to the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID), the first positive sample known in the U.S. was taken from a person in Minnesota on December 18, as reported by CNN. On January 9, the Minnesota State Department of Health announced that it had identified five cases in the state, all in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. And to learn more about the mutation, Dr. Fauci says that this is the most “worrying” thing about the latest strain. 8 Connecticut Connecticut confirmed two cases of the UK variant in individuals between the ages of 15 and 25, according to a series of tweets by Governor Ned Lamont on January 7. Both infected individuals reside in New Haven County, and they both traveled out of Connecticut recently – one to Ireland and the other to New York State. 9 Texas A Harris County resident in his 30s with no recent travel history was the first confirmed case of the UK strain in Texas, according to the Texas Department State Health Services (DSHS). “The fact that this person has no travel history suggests that this variant is already circulating in Texas,” DSHS commissioner John Hellerstedt said in a statement on January 7. “This should make us redouble our commitment to infection prevention practices that we know work: masks whenever you are close to people you don’t live with, social distance and personal and environmental hygiene.” The state has already identified another case of B .1.1.7. variant, according to the CDC. And for signs that you may be sick, if this part of your body hurts, you may have COVID. 10 Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine, a physician, confirmed that an individual from Dauphin County had tested positive with the UK’s COVID variant after a well-known international exposure. In a note on January 7, Levine said the state “has been preparing for this variant” by sending samples for genetic sequencing every two weeks to the CDC since November. But this is the first time it has been identified. 11 Georgia Georgia first identified the UK variant within its borders on 5 January. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), the strain was discovered in an 18-year-old man who had no recent travel history. “The emergence of this variant in our state should be a wake-up call for all Georgians,” DPH commissioner Kathleen E. Toomey, MD, said in a statement. “Even when we start implementing a COVID-19 vaccine, we should not let our guard down and ignore basic preventive measures – wear a mask, social distance and wash your hands often.” And for more information on how to get rid of the virus, check out This temperature can kill COVID in minutes, says a new study. 12 New York New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the first discovery of the state of the UK variety on January 4. The variant was found in an upstate man who worked for N. Fox Jewelers in Saratoga Springs. Then, on January 12, Cuomo revealed that 12 total cases of the variant were identified in the state, NBC New York reported. Two more of the cases were related to jewelry, one was discovered separately on Long Island and two were identified as New York City residents – one in Manhattan and one in Queens. It has not yet been informed where the other six cases occurred. 13 Florida Florida was the third state to identify the new variant of the coronavirus. On December 31, the Florida Department of Health announced that a man in his 20s in Martin Country had contracted the new strain, despite having no recent travel history. Now, according to the CDC, Florida has at least 22 cases of this new variant. And for the most up-to-date information, subscribe to our daily newsletter. 14 California At the beginning of the month, California had only six confirmed cases of the UK coronavirus strain; now there are 40, according to the CDC. California’s first case was identified on Dec. 30 in a San Diego County man in his 30s who had no recent travel history. Twenty-four other cases have been confirmed in San Diego County and four are suspect, reports the Los Angeles Times. Two members of the same family in San Bernardino Country were also diagnosed with the new variant. It is not clear where the other 10 cases were. 15 Colorado The first reported case of the United Kingdom variant in the USA was found in Colorado in late December. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported on December 30 that the strain was identified in a 20-year-old man who was isolated in Elbert County. This man had no history of previous travel, which led Governor Jared Polis to assume that, although the state was the first to identify the new strain in the country, it was unlikely that he was the first to contract it – which it has now been proven with the Minnesota news. Since Colorado’s first discovery, four other cases of the variant have been found in the state, according to the CDC. And for more coronavirus concerns to be considered, if you take these OTC drugs, you should stop before getting the vaccine.