[ad_1]
San Luis Obispo County Public Health officials said they were told by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) that a county resident had tested positive for COVID-19 with variant B. 1.1.7, also known as the UK variant.
Health officials say they are further investigating this case, and to date no other cases of this variant have been identified in the county.
This individual would have completed his period of isolation and is no longer contagious.
On March 17, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention changed variants B.1.429 and B.1.427 from “variants of interest” to “variants of concern,” and both are significant statewide. More than seven of these variant cases were identified in SLO County weeks ago, before these variants were classified as variants of concern.
The CDC considers a variant “of concern” when it’s proven to spread more easily, cause more serious illness, and lead to increased hospitalizations and deaths.
“Our community can survive this pandemic,” said Dr Borenstein. “It will take the collective efforts of our Central Coast community to prevent these variants from spreading. Mask yourself, keep your distance, get tested for exposure, and get the vaccine when it’s your turn.
Health officials say that currently vaccines in use in the United States appear to remain effective against the severe effects of COVID-19, even against these variants.
It comes a day after two people from Santa Barbara County allegedly also had the British variant.
[ad_2]
Source link