A new variant of the new coronavirus that is considered more transmissible is now being considered as the possible culprit behind a coronavirus outbreak in a hospital in Vancouver, Washington, which has made dozens sick.
A coronavirus outbreak at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in December started in one patient who initially tested negative when he was admitted before testing positive days later, reports The Oregonian.
Since then, at least 30 cases of coronavirus have been reported among patients and hospital staff.
As of Monday, 56 health workers remained in quarantine due to 11 confirmed cases among staff.
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Dr. Lawrence Neville, chief medical officer of PeaceHealth Columbia Network, said Monday that officials do not rule out that the new coronavirus variant – B.1.1.7 – may be behind the outbreak.
The variant was recently discovered in the UK and is said to be more transmissible than COVID-19 – but from now on it is not thought to be more virulent or resistant to vaccines and treatment.
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According to The Oregonian, Neville said PeaceHealth sent samples to determine if the outbreak was indeed caused by the new variant, pointing out that it is ‘not impossible’.
It will take 10 to 14 days to receive the results, which could determine whether Washington is still a state to discover the new variant, which has already been found in Colorado, Florida, California, and from Monday in New York.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.