Colorado officials are investigating a second ‘highly suspicious’ but not yet confirmed case of a coronavirus variant that could possibly be found in another COVID-19 positive patient.
Both the confirmed case of the coronavirus variant and the possible second case involve members of the Colorado National Guard deployed to assist the Good Samaritan Society nursing home in Simla, where there was a widespread outbreak of COVID-19.
Both persons arrived at the old age home on 23 December and tested positive on 24 December. The positive tests were processed at the state laboratory, which was ready for the B.1.1.7. variant since it was first discovered in Britain. The laboratory is now conducting an investigation into residents and staff of the nursing home, as previous positive test results have been processed by an external laboratory.
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Preliminary results do not indicate that the variant is circulating through the nursing home, officials said during a press conference on Wednesday.
Both the confirmed case of the variant and the alleged case were ordered to isolate for ten days while officials conduct contact detection and try to determine where the variant was picked up. The patient with the confirmed variant experiences mild symptoms.
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“There’s a lot we do not know about this new COVID-19 variant, but scientists in the UK are warning the world that it is significantly more contagious,” Colorado Jov. Jared Polis said. “The health and safety of Coloradans is our top priority, and we will be closely monitoring this matter, as well as all COVID-19 indicators.”
Polis thanks state laboratory researchers for identifying the variant, but notes that he believes it will probably not be the first person with the variant here in the US.
He said researchers have so far found nothing to suggest that the variant could cause worse symptoms, but that it is believed to be more transmissible.
Police said earlier at the press conference that many parts of the state are taking phase 1b of the distribution of vaccines, and that residents 70 years and older are eligible to receive the shot.
“Anyone over the age of 70 can now legally receive the vaccine,” Polis said, adding that 78% of COVID-19 deaths in the state involve people over the age of 70.
He predicted that it would take about 4-5 weeks before anyone over 70 who wanted the vaccine would be able to get the first dose.
Polis said the state is working with various employers to work on targeted programs for essential front-line workers, educators, food workers, workers in grocery stores and others, including front-line journalists, to draw up a vaccination schedule.