New Jersey has now identified three separate coronavirus variants – including the first cases of variants originally identified in Brazil and New York – that are thought to be more easily transmitted and possibly more deadly, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday.
Officials have identified two cases of the Brazilian variant in Hudson County, as well as 34 cases of the New York tribe concentrated in the northeastern part of the state, Judith Persichilli, state health commissioner, announced.
The cases of the Brazilian variant – officially known as P1 – are linked, and officials are investigating the infected person’s travel history, Persichilli said. So far, there are only ten cases of the variant in the US, spread across five states and territories.
The first COVID-19 variant found in New Jersey was the strain originally discovered in the United Kingdom – known as B117. The state identified the first two cases here in January. There are currently 72 known cases of the variant in 16 provinces in the state.
‘While we are concerned about the increase in varietal strains, the public health prevention measures we have all used – physical distance, wearing a mask, washing your hands regularly, being vaccinated when it is your turn – are important tools for the spread. to prevent. of this virus, ”Persichilli said on Wednesday at the state’s latest coronavirus briefing in Trenton.
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Although the second wave of the pandemic has subsided in recent weeks and vaccinations continue, officials have warned that cases and hospitalizations in New Jersey could rise as the variants spread.
Persichilli said Wednesday that New Jersey recently saw a slight increase in cases, with the number of cases in the northwestern, northeastern and central regions of the state.
“This virus is still with us,” the commissioner said.
Murphy also said he would likely ease more COVID-19 restrictions if it were not for the uncertainty of the variants.
New Jersey reported another 2,957 confirmed cases and 63 additional confirmed deaths on Wednesday, one day before the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 case in the state.
More than 2.1 million people received at least their first dose of coronavirus vaccine in the state, while approximately 732,000 were completely vaccinated with two doses.
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Matt Arco can be reached at [email protected].
Brent Johnson can be reached at [email protected].