TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY – The Tompkins County Department of Health has found two more cases of the British variant of the COVID-19 virus (officially known as the B.1.1.7 variant) in humans locally. Both people are in isolation and close contacts have been identified.
This is the fifth and sixth case of the British variant found in the country, all of which were detected using sequence technology from Cornell University. Both the new cases were accused on travel.
The British variant is contagious, although there is apparently no evidence that it is more deadly than the original coronavirus that infected thousands of people and claimed the lives of nearly 30 Tompkins County residents. The first case was reported in the country on January 15, shortly after it was first found in New York State.
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“We are confident that we have successfully identified and isolated the cases in this situation,” said Frank Kruppa, Director of Public Health. ‘It’s a more contagious mutation of the virus and we need to be vigilant. We see more of this variant in the US and it may continue. We all still have a share in stopping the spread and must continue to diligently wear masks, avoid crowds and keep our distance from each other. ‘