COVID-19 variant found in Carroll, Fulton

A variant of COVID-19 first discovered in the UK last fall has made its way into two neighboring counties of Coweta.

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported on Monday that 19 cases of variant B.1.1.7 of COVID-19 have been identified in nine counties, including Carroll and Fulton.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, early evidence suggests that B.1.1.7 is significantly more contagious than COVID-19 and may be associated with an increased risk of death compared to other variants. Pfizer and Moderna say their current vaccines appear to work against this variant.

The British variant arrived in the United States in late December and has now been identified in 30 states and several other countries, according to health officials. Strains from South Africa and Brazil were discovered in the United States at the end of last month, but officials say that so far, these variants have been found in Georgia.

In a statement sent on Monday, the DPH reported that B.1.1.7. cases have been confirmed in 19 Georgians aged 15-61. Eight patients are men and 11 are women, and all live in the Atlanta metro area. In addition to Carroll and Fulton counties, cases have been confirmed in Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Gwinnett and Paulding counties.

“The DPH is working to identify close contacts of individuals and will monitor them closely,” the statement said.

The Georgia Public Health Laboratory and several commercial laboratories are working to identify the

presence of B.1.1.7. in hundreds of specimens collected from testing sites in Georgia

statewide, the statement said.

However, the DPH warns that this is only a small percentage of the total number of COVID-19 tests performed and that the current numbers do not necessarily provide an accurate representation. The infections could already exist anywhere in the state or country, according to health officials.

“The CDC said this British variant will likely be the dominant strain in the United States in a while.

in March, ”said Dr Kathleen Toomey, DPH Commissioner. “We need to make sure that we take all precautions now to prevent the transmission of COVID and to prevent a surge in hospitalizations and deaths.”

Preventive measures are more crucial than ever because B.1.1.7. The variant is more contagious, health officials say. This includes wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing, washing hands frequently, avoiding large gatherings, and COVID vaccination when eligibility permits.