New York has its first case of a contagious coronavirus variant first found in Brazil, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced in a statement on Saturday.
The patient with the P.1 variant was identified at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, the governor’s office said. The patient is a woman from Brooklyn in her 90s ‘without travel history’, according to the statement.
According to Cuomo, her potential local contacts are being followed.
“The detection of the Brazilian variant here in New York further emphasizes the importance of taking all the necessary steps to continue to protect your health,” Cuomo said. “While it is normal for a virus to mutate, the best way to protect yourself is to keep wearing a well-fitting mask, avoiding large crowds, taking social distances, washing your hands and getting vaccinated. if it’s your turn. “
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Health officials hoped the vaccine would stop the variants of the virus.
“It’s a race between the vaccine and the variant, and we’re continuing to make tremendous progress in getting shots into the arms of eligible New Yorkers,” said Dr. New York State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said in the governor’s announcement.
“In the meantime,” he said, “we remind New Yorkers to do everything in their power to protect themselves and their neighbors as we continue to manage this pandemic.”
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The Brazilian variant is a number of versions of the virus that are developing rapidly and that are causing health officials concern. They also follow the B.1.526 strain in New York, the B.1.1.7 UK variant, the B.1.351 strain from South Africa and the California variant called B.1.427 / B.1.429.
The Brazilian variant was first detected in the United States at the end of January. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called it one of the “variants of concern” because it has the potential for increased transmission and worse symptoms.
Josh Cradduck contributed.