Colorado health officials over the weekend confirmed the state’s first cases of a coronavirus variant, first detected in South Africa last year.
Authorities said three cases of variant B.1.351 were detected at the Colorado Department of Corrections’ Buena Vista Correctional Complex. Two cases occurred among employees and the other case occurred in an incarcerated individual.
The samples were detected after being randomly selected for genomic surveillance at the Colorado State Public Health Laboratory, which will “sequence all positive samples from this facility to look for variants,” health officials said in a press release.
State health officials said they had notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about the cases, adding that all people exposed in the correctional facility “will be required to complete a 14-day quarantine.”
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Inmates at the Colorado Department of Corrections’ Buena Vista Correctional Complex are tested weekly, officials said, who noted that testing inmates and staff for COVID-19 “has been one of the most important tools for the Department of Corrections during the course of this pandemic. . “
The B.1.351 strain was first detected in South Africa in October 2020. The strain is of concern because experts say it is more transmissible and probably more virulent than the original strain, meaning it can cause more serious illnesses . It has also been shown to decrease the effectiveness of vaccines and almost escape antibody treatments. Several drug manufacturers, including Moderna, are now working on varying booster doses in an attempt to gain more protection against the variants.
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“Everyone should continue to wear masks, practice physical distance, wash their hands frequently and get vaccinated when it’s their turn. These are our best tools to prevent the spread of this virus, no matter what the strain,” said Colorado health officials. at the launch. “Initial research suggests that currently authorized vaccines are effective against known variants, although perhaps to varying degrees depending on the strain. Experts emphasize that vaccination can provide significant protection against serious COVID-19 diseases.”
Fox News’ Kayla Rivas contributed to this report.