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A more infectious strain of COVID-19 first identified in South Africa has now been discovered in Illinois, raising concerns the state could be heading for another viral resurgence, officials said Thursday public health.
The coronavirus variant known as B.1.351 has been detected in a resident of Rock Island, one of the Quad Cities along the western border of Illinois with Iowa.
The discovery follows 22 confirmed cases in the Chicago area in the past month of another strain first found in the UK.
Both variants – and yet another from Brazil that has yet to appear in Illinois – spread more easily than the original virus that changed lives around the world, but the current arsenal of COVID-19 vaccines deployed nationwide “still recognize these variants and may offer some protection,” according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
“We expected to see more cases of the variants detected in Illinois, including the B.1.351 strain,” Illinois Director of Public Health Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in a statement. “These variants appear to be spreading faster, which can lead to more cases of COVID-19 and even another outbreak. Our best way to beat this virus as quickly as possible is to wear our masks and get vaccinated when it’s our turn.
In addition to masquerading, officials say the emerging variants highlight the need to maintain 6-foot social distancing, avoid crowds, wash hands regularly, and ensure indoor spaces are well ventilated.
Lax attitudes towards these basic guidelines – especially with the more infectious variants looming – could threaten the state’s progress in reducing infection rates, which have fallen sharply over the past two years. last months.
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With the last 2,838 cases diagnosed among 96,525 tests, Illinois’ average seven-day positivity rate remained stable at 3.3%. This key indicator of transmission was four times higher at the peak of the pandemic in November, and it has not been lower since July.
Hospital admissions for COVID-19 also fell sharply to pre-peak levels, with 1,954 beds occupied on Wednesday evening, the first time since October 14, that number fell below 2,000.
But the state suffered its worst day for coronavirus deaths in two weeks on Thursday as officials reported 102 more lives lost to respiratory disease. Fifty-four of the latest victims were from Cook County, including a man in his 30s.
Overall, however, the average rate of 57 deaths per day in the state over the past week is half of what it was a month ago.
Since last March, nearly 1.2 million people have been infected statewide and 19,841 of them have died.
COVID-19 test sites operated by the city of Chicago will be closed Friday and Monday for Lincoln’s birthday and Presidents’ Day.
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