Category: variant

Two Cases of South African Virus Variant in South of England Without Travel Links

Two people in the south of England have tested positive for the South African variant of the CCP virus—the first such cases with no identified links to travel from the country. The discovery in Surrey sparked the rollout of local “surge testing” of thousands of people as local authorities try to stem the spread of…


2 Cases of South African Virus Variant in South of England Without Travel Links

Two people in the south of England have tested positive for the South African variant of the CCP virus—the first such cases with no identified links to travel from the country. The discovery in Surrey sparked the rollout of local “surge testing” of thousands of people as local authorities try to stem the spread of…


CCP Virus Variant From South Africa Confirmed in Maryland: Authorities

The B.1.351 variant from South Africa of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus was confirmed to be in Maryland by Governor Larry Hogan on Jan. 30. State officials confirmed the variant’s existence in the state via their department of health after consulting the CDC. The virus strain is still under research and appears to be…


Minnesota Case Marks First Detection of Brazil Variant in US

MINNEAPOLIS—A new Brazilian variant of the coronavirus has made its first known appearance in the United States in a person who recently returned to Minnesota after traveling to Brazil, state health officials announced Monday. The Brazil P.1 variant was found in a specimen from a patient who lives in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area who became…


Mutated COVID-19 Strain Detected in Orange County

A mutated strain of COVID-19 has landed in numerous Southern California counties, health officials said as they worked to better understand the variant. The California Department of Public Health (CDCH) said Jan. 17 that the 452R variant has been detected in about a dozen counties, including Orange, San Diego, and Los Angeles counties.  The department…


British Columbia Reports First Case of South African COVID-19 Variant

British Columbia has reported the first case of COVID-19 linked to the variant found in South Africa. Dr. Bonnie Henry, the B.C. Provincial Health Officer, confirmed the finding during a press briefing on Jan. 14. The infected person has not been traveling and hasn’t been near anyone who recently traveled, Henry said. “We are still…


CDC Denies Existence of Rumored ‘USA Variant’ of COVID-19

A federal health agency on Friday rejected the notion that a new variant of COVID-19 that originated in the United States exists. “Researchers have been monitoring U.S. strains since the pandemic began, including 5,700 samples collected in November and December,” a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spokesman told news outlets. “To date, neither researchers…


CDC Says It Hasn’t Seen ‘USA Variant’ of COVID-19

A federal health agency has rejected the notion that a new variant of COVID-19 that originated in the United States exists. “Researchers have been monitoring U.S. strains since the pandemic began, including 5,700 samples collected in November and December,” a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spokesman told news outlets on Jan. 8. “To date,…


Wales Closes Schools and Colleges Until Half Term Unless Virus Cases Drop

Wales announced on Friday that following the rapid spread of a new variant, its schools and colleges will stay closed until the mid-February half term unless numbers of CCP virus cases drop significantly. “We are taking this action today because this new variant is far more infectious and is leading to increased numbers of people…


UK Scientists Worry Vaccines May Not Protect Against South African Coronavirus Variant

LONDON—UK scientists expressed concern on Monday that COVID-19 vaccines being rolled out in Britain may not be able to protect against a new variant of the coronavirus that emerged in South Africa and has spread internationally. Both Britain and South Africa have detected new, more transmissible variants of the COVID-19-causing virus in recent weeks that…