More Infectious Variant of COVID-19 Detected in Colorado
While B.1.1.7 has been linked to an uptick of cases in the south of the U.K., there is no evidence yet that it is deadlier or vaccine-resistant.
Kate Munsch/Reuters
A more infectious strain of the coronavirus first detected in the United Kingdom has officially made its way to the United States. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced Tuesday on Twitter that state health officials found a case of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 in a male patient in his twenties. The patient had no travel history, according to a statement posted by Polis.
Today we discovered Colorado’s first case of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, the same variant discovered in the UK.
— Governor Jared Polis (@GovofCO) December 29, 2020
The health and safety of Coloradans is our top priority and we will monitor this case, as well as all COVID-19 indicators, very closely. pic.twitter.com/fjyq7QhzBi
Experts told The Daily Beast last week that the variant was likely already in the United States, given that it was first observed in September and given the lack of travel restrictions. While B.1.1.7 has been linked to an uptick of cases in the south of the U.K., there is no evidence yet that it is deadlier or vaccine-resistant.
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