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New York has its first case of the contagious variant of the coronavirus first discovered in Brazil, Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a statement on Saturday.
The patient with the P.1 variant has been identified at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, the governor’s office said. The patient is a Brooklyn woman in her 90s “with no travel history,” the statement said.
His potential local contacts were being followed, according to Cuomo.
“The detection of the Brazilian variant here in New York City further underscores the importance of taking all appropriate steps to continue to protect your health,” Cuomo said. “While it is normal for a virus to mutate, the best way to protect yourself is to continue to wear a properly fitted mask, avoid large crowds, social distances, wash your hands and get vaccinated. when it’s your turn. “
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Health officials maintained hope that the vaccination would stop variants of the virus.
“It’s a race between vaccine and variants, and we continue to make tremendous progress in getting vaccines into the arms of eligible New Yorkers,” said Dr. Howard Zucker, health commissioner of the New York State, in the governor’s announcement.
“In the meantime,” he said, “we remind New Yorkers to do all they can to protect themselves and their neighbors as we continue to manage this pandemic.”
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The Brazilian variant is one of a number of rapidly evolving versions of the virus that are worrying health officials. They also follow strain B.1.526 in New York, variant B.1.1.7 UK, strain B.1.351 from South Africa, and California variant called B.1.427 / B.1.429.
The Brazilian variant was first detected in the United States in late January. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called it one of the “variants of concern” because it has the potential for increased transmission and more severe symptoms.
Josh Cradduck contributed.
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