Raleigh, NC – At least three cases of a variant of COVID-19 originating in the United Kingdom have been detected in North Carolina.
Medical experts say variant B.1.1.7, which was first detected in December, is more contagious, but no more deadly than COVID-19. According to the CDC, 195 cases of the UK variant have been detected in 21 US states by January 22.
The Guilford County Public Health Division confirmed a positive case of the COVID-19 B.1.1.7 variant in Guilford County on January 27, according to a press release, and WITN News reports another case of the strain of United Kingdom was reported in County Onslow on 11 January.
Earlier this month, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services identified the first case of the variant in an adult in Mecklenburg County.
Dr. Iulia Vann, Director of Public Health for Guilford County, said the county is conducting contact tracking and “will continue to monitor this case intensively.”
Current COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be effective against the new variant, but practicing the three Ws – washing your hands, wearing a mask and waiting five feet away – is more important than ever, according to the authorities.
“While it is expected, the identification of this COVID-19 variant in North Carolina is worrying, especially as we are already seeing a very high number of cases,” said Mandy Cohen, secretary of the NCDHHS.
State health officials advise people to stay at home, except for essential activities and to avoid meeting, especially indoors, with people who do not live with you.
If you really need to travel or be with people you don’t live with, get tested in advance, keep it small and outdoors and always wear a mask.