HAMILTON COUNTY, Ohio – A COVID-19 variant, commonly known as the UK variant, was discovered in Hamilton County, Hamilton County Public Health officials said on Monday.
Hamilton County is one of at least 11 Ohio counties known to have detected the variant, officially labeled as B.1.1.7 line. The variant was also discovered in a laboratory in Covington, Kentucky, in January.
Hamilton County public health officials have completed tracking the patient’s contact, who has been quarantined. The test was performed on January 30, and the variant was detected during routine surveillance of the tests, which are submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hamilton County Public Health Commissioner Greg Kesterman said he and his agency had known about the variant for some time.
“From the point of view of prevention, the answer remains the same: wear a mask, keep at least six feet of physical distance, wash your hands frequently and stay home when you are sick. Also, consider taking the vaccine when you are eligible, ”said Kesterman in a statement.
According to the CDC, it is estimated that the variant first appeared in the UK during September 2020. Several countries have reported cases of the variant since December 20, including the USA
The UK variant is associated with more efficient and faster transmission, says the CDC, and UK scientists have reported evidence to suggest that the variant may be associated with an increased risk of death compared to other variants.
Click here for more information on virus variants on the CDC website.