Another three cases of the highly contagious coronavirus variant, first discovered in the UK, were identified in New Jersey, bringing the total number identified at Garden State to 11.
The first two cases of the variant were announced last week. Authorities announced on Wednesday that they had discovered six additional cases. Three more were announced on Friday.
Cases have been reported in six counties:
- Ocean County – 4
- Essex County – 2
- Morris County – 2
- Hudson County – 1
- Middlesex County – 1
- Warren County – 1
At least one death was attributed to the new variant and two of the cases involved people with recent travel.
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New Jersey health officials reported an additional 5,023 confirmed cases of coronavirus on Friday and 83 additional deaths, as vaccination doses approached 725,000 injections administered.
Scientists said the mutation was up to 70% more contagious. But there is preliminary evidence that it can be deadly and that other variants may be more resistant to vaccines. New Jersey is among at least 24 states where the strain has been confirmed.
Viruses usually acquire small one- or two-letter changes in their genetic alphabet only through normal evolution. A slightly modified strain may become the most common strain in a country or region only because it was the strain that first settled there or because “spreader” events helped it to establish itself.
A major concern is when a virus mutates, changing the proteins on its surface to help it escape drugs or the immune system.
But New Jersey health officials said they did not believe the variant would limit the effectiveness of vaccines against the virus.
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Matt Arco can be contacted at [email protected].