KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (WVLT) – According to the Tennessee Department of Health, a new, potentially dangerous strain COVID-19 has been reported in Tennessee.
According to TDH officials, seven copies were sent to the CDC for analysis. The CDC has confirmed that the samples are the B117 variant of COVID-19.
According to TDH, Tennessee is among the 20 states that report COVID-19 cases caused by variants.
Health officials said the new strain could be more dangerous because it could be more contagious, up to twice as contagious, as other known strains of COVID.
“Viruses are constantly changing and new variants are expected to appear over time,” TDH said. ‘It does not change our response to COVID-19 in Tennessee, but serves as a reminder of the need for constant vigilance and practice of simple actions we can all take to prevent further spread of COVID-19: wash hands regularly, restrict events keep social distance, wear a mask in public and get vaccinated if you are eligible. ”
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