Chicago COVID: Variant of British Coronavirus Found in Illinois, Scientists Say

CHICAGO (WLS) – Scientists confirmed on Thursday that the UK variant strain COVID-19 was here in Chicago.

The first American case of British origin was discovered last month in Colorado.

“It’s a variant that has specific mutations that was described in the UK in mid-December,” said Dr Ramon Lorenzo Redondo, a virologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “He only took control of the outbreak in the UK.”

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Redondo is part of a team of scientists from Northwestern University who have been tracking COVID-19 samples. Out of 200 recent patients, he said he found one with the British variant.

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The discovery prompted state officials to warn again of the need to maintain precautions, as the British variant is considered more contagious. However, doctors don’t believe it can cause more serious illness or be more fatal.

“Early studies show that this variant spreads easier and faster,” said Ngozi Ezike, Illinois’ senior physician. “So if we don’t continue to wear our masks, watch our distances and avoid rallies, this new variant could sweep the state as it sweeps across the UK.”

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“We must remain vigilant if we are to maintain our progress,” Governor JB Pritzker added. “Honestly, it will be up to each of us to keep our schools open and see an economic recovery that restores jobs and businesses. We need to wear a mask limiting interactions with people outside our homes and get vaccinated when it’s our turn. “

Redondo has said the current vaccines should be effective against the UK variant, but warns that now is the time to reduce the spread.

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“This is why it is so important to reduce the numbers,” he said. “Not because this virus is more serious, but we don’t want to give the virus a better chance to adapt and infect better.”

The discovery of the variant in Chicago comes as the worldwide death toll from COVID-19 exceeds 2 million, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

The milestone was reached just over a year after the detection of COVID-19 in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

It took eight months to kill 1 million and less than four months after that to reach the next million.

Explore our interactive map of Illinois COVID-19