COVID-19 in Pa: a woman in the Philadelphia area diagnosed with the British variant of COVID-19

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (WPVI) – A variant of COVID-19 first identified in the United Kingdom has been discovered in a woman from the Philadelphia area.

The news was announced following an investigation by the Department of Public Health in Philadelphia and the Department of Health in Bucks County.

Officials say the patient, a woman in her 50s, began experiencing symptoms in the last week of December and was admitted to the hospital shortly thereafter.

The woman, who is a resident of both Philadelphia and Bucks County, is currently recovering.

Both health departments say they are working together to conduct contact detection.

Scientists in the UK have said that there is no evidence that this variant causes serious diseases but that it could possibly spread more easily.

Dr. Thomas Farley, commissioner for health in Philadelphia, said while it has not yet been proven that the variant is more contagious than others, it appears from research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We are concerned that it is present in Philadelphia. Everyone in the area should take this information as a reminder to be even more consistent in wearing masks and keeping distance from others,” Farley said.

This is the second case of the variant occurring in Pennsylvania. In the first case, a Dauphin County patient experienced mild symptoms.

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