First case of South African variant of COVID-19 found in New York

A Long Island resident has the first known case of the South African variant coronavirus in New York state, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday.

The mutated version of COVID-19 has been detected in a resident of Nassau County, the governor said in a press release.

The announcement came a week after a Connecticut resident hospitalized in New York City was discovered to have the variant.

The strain, originally identified in South Africa, was first discovered in the United States last month – and scientists believe it can spread more easily than other variants of the virus.

His arrival in the Empire State means “it’s more important than ever for New Yorkers to stay alert, wear masks, wash their hands and stay socially aloof,” Cuomo said.

“We’re in a race right now – between our ability to vaccinate and those variants that are actively trying to proliferate – and we will only win this race if we stay smart and disciplined,” he said.

Nassau County Director Laura Curran also urged residents to continue to take precautions.

“We don’t think the South African variant is more deadly, but it can be more contagious,” Curran said in a statement. “The best answer is to continue the proven precautions: wear masks, avoid social gatherings, get away, stay home and get tested in case of illness.”

Meanwhile, the state’s latest COVID-19 figures continued to show a downward trend in hospitalizations and deaths after peaking around the holiday season.

Fewer than 5,800 patients were hospitalized for the virus on Saturday, down more than 800 from the previous week.

Authorities recorded 75 deaths from COVID-19 on Saturday, the first time since December 16 that the daily death toll has fallen below 100.

Cuomo also announced that the state’s COVID-19 positivity rate was 2.99%, dropping below 3% for the first time since November 23.

“We continue to see a reduction in positivity and hospitalizations statewide, which is good news, and these advancements allow us to reopen the valve to our economy even further,” Cuomo said.

With pole wires