New UK variant of COVID-19 detected in Utah, health officials say

SALT LAKE CITY – A new variant of COVID-19 originating in the UK has been detected in Utah, public health officials said on Friday.

The variant, also known as B.1.1.7 COVID-19, was detected in a Salt Lake County man who tested positive last month and was between 25 and 44 years old, according to a press release from the Utah Department of Health. . The man had no known travel history outside of Utah and had only mild symptoms, the statement said.

“We had absolutely expected that we would find this strain in Utah. We know this strain is more transmissible than previous variants of COVID-19, and our hospitals continue to operate near or above capacity. So now more than ever, residents of Utah must wear masks, practice physical distancing and avoid large gatherings, ”Department of Health epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn said in the statement.

Salt Lake County health officials have conducted a routine case investigation, including contact tracing, for the variant case. The Utah Public Health Laboratory discovered the variant through genetic sequencing of COVID-19 samples, the press release said.

The UK variant is believed to spread faster and easier than other COVID-19 mutations, but there is no evidence to be more deadly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was first detected in the United States in Colorado.

The COVID-19 vaccines currently approved for use are also believed to be effective against the UK variant of the virus, the health department said.

Dunn is expected to provide more information on finding the variant on Friday afternoon.

This story will be updated.

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Jacob Klopfenstein