UK variant of COVID-19 found in northern Virginia patient with no travel history – NBC4 Washington

A variant of the COVID-19 virus first discovered in the UK last year was discovered in Virginia, the state’s first case, officials said.

A resident of northern Virginia with no recent travel history tested positive for the variant, the Virginia Department of Health said in a statement Monday afternoon.

The variant is “associated with increased person-to-person transmission of COVID-19,” the statement said.

Virginia health officials informed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the case.

State Health Commissioner Dr Norman Oliver has urged residents of Virginia to continue working to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“We know that this strain variety spreads faster between people than other strains currently circulating in our communities, but we have even more to know if it causes more serious disease. As public health officials in our state closely monitor the emergence of variant B.1.1.7 in our Commonwealth, it is important that all Virginians continue to monitor mitigation measures, ”he said. he stated in the statement.

Two cases of the variant were recently discovered in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. One of the patients had recently traveled abroad; the other was the patient’s wife, the governor said.

Stick with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.