Nurses speak on January 14, 2021 in front of the 28th Agosto Hospital in Manaus, Amazon State, Brazil, amid the new coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic.
MICHAEL DANTAS | AFP | Getty Images
Governor Andrew Cuomo said Saturday that a more contagious Covid-19 variant, originally identified in Brazilian travelers, has now reached New York.
The strain was detected by scientists at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and confirmed by the Wadsworth Center Laboratories of the Department of Health. The center collects approximately 90 random samples for genomic sequencing each day and has tracked more than 8,200 samples across the country.
According to a press release, the patient with the Brazilian variant is a Brooklyn resident in their 90s with no travel history.
“The detection of the Brazilian variant here in New York further emphasizes the importance of taking all the necessary steps to continue to protect your health,” Cuomo said. The governor urged New Yorkers to continue wearing masks, avoiding crowds and getting a vaccine when eligible.
The Brazilian tribe, named P.1, was first identified by four Brazilian travelers tested during a screening in Tokyo, Japan, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The P.1 variant was discovered in the USA at the end of January. The CDC has since reported 48 cases nationwide. The strain has a number of additional mutations that can affect its ability to be recognized by antibodies.
There is evidence that the variant is more contagious and may reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine. Researchers at the University of Oxford recently released non-peer-reviewed data suggesting that they are less resistant to vaccines. However, additional research is needed.
Cuomo’s announcement comes as daily business in New York and 20 other states increases. Mortality rates and hospitalization rates are declining in New York as vaccine distribution accelerates.