MARTINEZ, California. – Laboratory results have revealed the first two known cases of the highly contagious British variant in Contra Costa County, health officials announced on Tuesday.
The B.1.117 variant, nicknamed the British variant, because it is believed to have originated in the United Kingdom, is more contagious than others and possibly more deadly.
The presence of the British variants was discovered during the pandemic as part of laboratory surveillance work.
One person infected with the British variant began to show common COVID-19 symptoms such as coughing and muscle aches and was able to isolate himself at home, officials said. The other Contra Costa province resident reported having multiple symptoms, including runny nose, cough, headache and loss of smell and taste.
‘It is a reminder that although COVID numbers are declining, we must use all our tools to prevent a new upsurge: wear masks in public, keep physical distance, avoid indoor as well as large gatherings and get vaccinated, ‘The dr. Provincial Health Officer Chris Farnitano said in a statement.
Although these are the first confirmed cases of the British variant in Contra Costa, Farnitano said there are probably many more in the community that have not been detected. Indeed, next to Florida and Michigan, California, the state has the third highest number of confirmed cases in the UK in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We can not say how widespread it is in Contra Costa, but it is worrying,” he said.
The South African variant, another COVID variant that is of concern, has yet to be found in the counter-province, officials said. The variant has already been found in the Bay Area, in the provinces of Alameda and Santa Clara.
Initial studies suggest that the three COVID vaccines in the United States offer strong protection against the British variant and others.