Tuesday, February 16, 2021
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) announced on Tuesday that COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 was identified in samples from three Rhode Island patients.
The variant was identified in these samples last night. A patient was in his 60s, a patient was in his 50s and a patient was in his 20s.
These samples were sequenced as part of RIDOH’s COVID-19 genomic surveillance plan. These cases are still under investigation. The sequencing was carried out by the Broad Institute, in collaboration with RIDOH’s State Health Laboratories. This sequencing work is supported by funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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This weekend, MA officials announced that they had detected 29 cases.
And, scientists in the UK announced that research has shown that the strain is more deadly.
Variant B.1.1.7 was originally identified in the United Kingdom. This variant of COVID-19 is considered to be more contagious than the strain prevalent in Rhode Island during the pandemic.
All Rhode Islanders are encouraged to continue wearing masks, practicing social detachment and washing their hands regularly.