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The Covid-19 variant known as B.1.1.7 has been detected in Burlington wastewater, indicating that it is likely present in the community, according to the Department of Health.
Health Commissioner Mark Levine said in a statement Thursday that the discovery represented “a new stage in the pandemic here in Vermont.”
The variant, first detected in the UK, has put health officials on high alert. It is considered more contagious than the virus that has spread over the past year, and experts have warned that this mutation and others could cause an increase in cases as the deployment of the Covid vaccine is still in progress. at its beginnings.
Burlington has been monitoring viral activity in wastewater since last August. The process has been used to glean early warnings of increasing levels of Covid in the community. In January, the city announced it would begin testing wastewater for the B.1.1.7 strain.
The Ministry of Health does not consider the city’s detection of the B.1.1.7 virus to be definitive – the presence of the variant can only be confirmed by performing genomic sampling of individuals who have tested positive for Covid-19 .
Levine said Thursday the find was no surprise. For weeks, the health commissioner said it was only a matter of time before a variant was detected in Vermont and was likely already circulating in the state.
A case was detected in Saratoga Springs, New York, in early January. The Department of Health said 34 states had recorded cases.
The likely presence of the variant should remind Vermonters to adhere closely to public health guidelines, Levine said. “It is extremely important that everyone take all necessary measures to avoid catching and spreading the virus, even as our vaccination efforts continue – wear your mask, keep a distance of six feet from each other and absolutely avoid crowded places, ”he said. .
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