BOSTON (AP) – A second case of the most infectious variant of the coronavirus, first found in the United Kingdom, was confirmed in Massachusetts, state health officials said on Wednesday.
The second case was confirmed on Tuesday by a state laboratory and is a man in his 20s in Worcester County, a spokesman for the state’s Department of Public Health said by email.
No other information about the person was provided.
The first confirmed case last weekend was a Boston woman in her 20s who traveled to the UK and felt ill the day after her return, the state Department of Public Health said. The woman had tested negative for COVID-19 before leaving the UK, officials said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States said the variant is about 50% more contagious than the common strain, but that vaccines are considered equally effective in prevention.
Laboratory surveillance tests for the UK variant continue both in the state laboratory and in collaboration with clinical diagnostic laboratories and academic partners.
Receive email alerts from Boston.com:
Subscribe and receive breaking news and updates about the coronavirus, from our newsroom to your inbox.