According to the Department of Public Health, the so-called “South African” variant of the COVID-19 virus has been discovered in a patient in Connecticut for the first time.
The B.1.351 variant was found in a Fairfield County resident aged 60-70 who has not traveled recently. The person is currently hospitalized out of state, DPH said.
Connecticut was notified of the diagnosis by health officials in New York.
The B.1.351 variant is more contagious than the original COVID-19 virus. This strain of the virus was first discovered in South Africa in October 2020 and was first discovered in the United States in late January 2021, according to a press release.
“Seeing another variant in our state once again reminds us of the severity of this pandemic and reinforces the need for us to take all the necessary precautions that have proven successful over the past year. The virus does not recognize state borders, and certainly no international borders, which means that it is our responsibility to do what we can on a personal basis to stop the spread, ”said Governor Ned Lamont.
With the discovery of the new B.1.351 variant, as well as 42 confirmed Connecticut cases of the B.1.1.7 variant first discovered in the UK, health officials urged residents to remain vigilant when it comes to to wearing masks and social media. take distance.
Correction (Feb 15, 2021 4:21 PM) An earlier version of this story contained incorrect information from DPH that the B.1.351 variant caused a more serious disease than the original COVID-19 variant. DPH now says the CDC guidance shows no evidence that it causes more serious illness.