Health officials in Massachusetts on Sunday announced the state’s first known case of the more contagious coronavirus variant initially detected in the UK, known as B.1.1.7.
The mutated strain was found in a female Boston resident in her twenties who traveled to the UK, according to a statement from the Department of Public Health.
Although the woman tested negative before leaving the UK, she became ill one day after her arrival in the US and later tested positive. The CDC currently requires passengers traveling from the UK to the US to deliver negative COVID-19 test results within three days of travel. (As of January 26, all international passengers must fly to the United States, according to the CDC.) The statement did not specify when the woman was tested.
Contact detectives questioned the woman and identified her close contacts, according to the health department statement.
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“The individual developed symptoms in early January and tested positive for COVID-19,” the statement released Sunday said. ” A genetic sample was sent to an out-of-state laboratory as part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s instituted observation process to identify COVID-19 variants. The state’s public health lab was notified of the results last night. “
Health officials are conducting another interview with the woman and supervision of variants is continuing in the state’s public health lab.
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Massachusetts joins 14 other states across the country that have previously reported cases of the British coronavirus variant. Data compiled by the CDC contains a list of at least 88 cases of the variant, excluding the newly reported case in Massachusetts. It is believed that this strain is about 50 to 70% more contagious, but it is not believed to cause more serious illnesses or deaths. The recently approved vaccines are believed to remain effective against the strain.
“Given the increased portability of this variant and the number of states and other states that have found infected cases, the department expected the variant to eventually arrive in Massachusetts,” the statement said.
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Health officials have tested and tested the use of mask, physical distance, staying home when you are sick to reduce the risk of additional infections. Massachusetts reported 4,283 new coronavirus infections on Jan. 17, contributing to a total of 448,311 cases. 13,372 deaths were reported and more than 2,100 people in the state were hospitalized due to the new virus.
Younger populations (0-19, 20-29) are responsible for the largest number of new infections.