Tuesday, February 16, 2021
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) announced Tuesday that the B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19 has been identified in samples from three Rhode Island patients.
The variant was identified in these samples last night. One patient was in his sixties, one patient in his fifties, and one patient in his twenties.
These samples were sequenced as part of RIDOH’s COVID-19 genomic surveillance plan. These cases are still under investigation. Sequencing was performed by the Broad Institute in conjunction with RIDOH’s State Health Laboratories. This sequencing work is supported by funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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This weekend, MA officials announced they had discovered 29 cases.
And scientists in the UK have announced that research has shown the species to be more deadly.
The B.1.1.7 variant was originally identified in the United Kingdom. This variant of COVID-19 is considered more contagious than the strain that predominated in Rhode Island during the pandemic.
All Rhode Islanders are urged to continue wearing masks, social detachment and washing their hands regularly.