Tuesday 16 February 2021
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) announced Tuesday that the B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19 has been identified in samples from three Rhode Island patients.
The variant was identified in these samples last night. One patient was in their 60s, one patient was in their 50s, and one patient was in their 20s.
These samples were subjected successively as part of RIDOH’s genomic monitoring plan COVID-19. These matters are still being investigated. The sequence was performed by the Broad Institute, in collaboration with RIDOH’s State Health Laboratories. This sequence is supported by funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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This weekend, MA officials announced that they had located 29 cases.
And scientists in the UK have announced that research has shown that the strain is more lethal.
The B.1.1.7 variant was originally identified in the United Kingdom. This variant of COVID-19 is considered more contagious than the strain that was predominant in Rhode Island due to the pandemic.
All Rhode Islanders are urged to continue wearing masks, doing social distance and washing their hands regularly.