The American first case of the British tribe was discovered in Colorado last month.
“This is a variant with specific mutations that was described in the UK in mid-December,” said Dr. Ramon Lorenzo Redondo, a virologist at the Feinberg School of Medicine of Northwestern University, said. “It took over the epidemic only in the UK.”
Government JB Pritzker gives the latest on COVID-19 in Illinois
Redondo is part of a team of scientists at Northwestern University who followed COVID-19 samples. Out of 200 recent patients, he said they found one with the British variant.
RELATED: Study Indicates Pfizer Vaccine Works Against Coronavirus Variant
This finding prompted government officials to warn again about the need to maintain precautions, as the British variant is believed to be more contagious. However, doctors do not believe that it can cause worse diseases or be more deadly.
“Early studies do show that this variant spreads easier and faster,” said Illinois’ leading physician, Ngozi Ezike. “So if we do not continue to wear our masks, keep our distance and avoid gatherings, this new variant could sweep across the state while sweeping across the UK.”
RELATED: Member of the Colorado National Guard has first case in US case of virus variants
“We must remain vigilant if we are to maintain our progress,” Governor JB Pritzker added. “Honestly, it’s up to each of us to keep our schools open and see an economic recovery that restores jobs and businesses. We need to wear a mask that restricts interaction with people outside our household and is vaccinated when it’s our turn. . ‘
Redondo said the current vaccinations are expected to be effective against the UK variant, but he warns that now is the time to reduce the spread.
RELATED: Illinois COVID Vaccine Map Shows How Many Inhabitants Are Vaccinated Per Country
“That’s why it’s so important to lower the numbers,” he said. “Not because this virus is worse, but we do not want to give the virus more chance to adapt and infect better.”
The discovery of the variant in Chicago occurs when the global death toll from COVID-19 is two million, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
The milestone was reached just over a year after COVID-19 was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
It took eight months to kill 1 million and less than four months later to reach the next million.
Explore our interactive Illinois COVID-19 vaccine map
Copyright © 2021 WLS-TV. All rights reserved.