A new strain of coronavirus found in the UK in December has wreaked havoc across the lake, forcing the country into another confinement on January 4. As researchers rush to find out more about this new variant, known as B.1.1. 7, scientists confirmed that it is much more transmissible than the previous dominant strain, by up to 70 percent. Due to its contagious character, it is not surprising that the new strain has spread rapidly in more than 30 other countries, including the United States. So far, the new COVID strain has been found in eight states, a number that is likely to grow. Read on to find out more about the cases found in those states so far, and for what lies ahead, check out Dr. Fauci just made this scary prediction about the COVID strain in the UK.
Read the original article at Better life.
Connecticut is the most recent state to identify coronavirus staining in the UK. O state confirmed two cases in individuals between the ages of 15 and 25, according to a series of tweets from the Gov. Ned Lamont on January 7th. Both infected individuals reside in New Haven County and both recently traveled outside Connecticut – one to Ireland and the other to New York State. And to learn more about the spread of the virus, find out which are the 3 states with the worst outbreaks of COVID worldwide.
A Harris County resident in his 30s with no recent travel history was the first confirmed case of the UK strain in Texas, according to the Texas State Department of Health (DSHS). “The fact that this person has no travel history suggests that this variant is already circulating in Texas,” DSHS commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD, said in a statement on January 7. “That should make us all redouble our commitment to the infection prevention practices that we know work: masks whenever you’re around people you don’t live with, social distance and personal and environmental hygiene.” And for signs that you you may be sick, check if this part of your body hurts, you may have COVID.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Rachel Levine, MD, confirmed that an individual from Dauphin County had tested positive with the UK variant COVID after known international exposure. In a note on January 7, Levine said the state “is preparing for this variant”, sending samples for genetic sequencing every two weeks to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since November. But this is the first time he has been identified. And to find out more about another variant of concern, check out Dr. Fauci just issued this warning about another new COVID strain.
Georgia first identified the UK variant within its borders on 5 January. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), the strain was discovered in an 18-year-old man who is currently isolating himself at home and has not made any recent travel history.
“The emergence of this variant in our state should be a warning to all Georgians,” Commissioner DPH Kathleen E. Toomey, MD, said in a statement. “Even when we start to launch a COVID-19 vaccine, we should not let our guard down and ignore basic preventive measures – wear a mask, social distance and wash your hands often.” And for the latest news about coronavirus, find out why this is the “strongest and most consistent” signal you have in COVID, says the study.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the first discovery of the UK’s variety status on January 4. The variant was found in an inland man who worked for N. Fox Jewelers in Saratoga Springs. According Times union, four people connected to this man also tested positive for COVID, but have not yet been diagnosed with the new strain. And while it is unclear whether the other individuals were also employees, anyone who was in the store between 18 and 24 December is encouraged to take the test. And to learn more about the UK strain, find out why these people are most at risk of getting the new COVID strain, study found.
Florida was the third state to identify the new variant of the coronavirus. On December 31, the Florida Department of Health announced that a man in his 20s in Martin Country came down with the new strain, despite having no recent travel history. Now, according to the CDC, Florida has at least 22 cases of this new variant. And to receive the most up-to-date COVID news directly in your inbox, subscribe to our daily newsletter.
Earlier this week, California had only six confirmed cases of the UK coronavirus strain; now there are 20 more, according to the CDC. California’s first case was identified on December 30 in a San Diego County man in his 30s who had no recent travel history, the Los Angeles Times reports. Twenty-four other cases have already been identified in San Diego County by Politico, and two members of the same family in the country of San Bernardino have also been diagnosed with the new variant. And for more information on the urgent coronavirus situation, find out how bad the COVID outbreak is in your state.
The first reported case of the United Kingdom variant in the USA was found in Colorado in late December. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported on December 30 that the strain was identified in an isolated 20-year-old man in Elbert County. This man had no travel history, leading the governor Jared Polis to assume that, although the state was the first to identify the new strain in the country, it was unlikely that it would be the first to contract it. And for more information on problem states, see Dr. Fauci Just Said He is concerned about this state.