The Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed the state’s first identified case of a new, more easily spread variant of COVID-19 in the Greater New Orleans area, officials said.
SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7., Which is often referred to in the United Kingdom as the ‘UK variant’, spreads more easily according to officials than other viral strains in the country.
Ochsner Health System, the largest in Louisiana, said it would delay the appointment of vaccines for thousands of patients after receiving no new doses …
LDH conducted an investigation and contact tracing to identify those who are in close contact with the infected person, who allegedly has a history from outside the state. The variant strain, which officials say is likely to spread to Louisiana, has been detected in at least 15 other states.
“It is imperative that everyone doubles the mitigation measures we know are effective in reducing the spread of the virus,” Governor John Bel Edwards said in a statement. “It’s always been a matter of time before this new virus strain would reach Louisiana, and that’s why our state health experts have been monitoring cases and preparing with the CDC.”
LDH is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s national SARS-CoV-2 strain monitoring program in preparation for this variant strain and has been sending bi-weekly samples for sequencing since November 2020.
The British variant has not been shown to cause serious illness, officials added, and health experts believe the current COVID-19 vaccines are effective against this strain.
Health experts advise people to continue washing their hands, wearing masks and wearing social spacing to prevent the spread of this more contagious variant strain.
“There is no such thing as taking it too seriously,” Edwards said. “Even with the available vaccines, our best defense is to control our behavior with the measures that are proven to help protect us from the spread of this virus among our family, friends and throughout our community.”