Covid variant from South Africa first detected in New York, resident

Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday that a Covid-19 variant first identified in South Africa had arrived in New York.

The governor said in a press conference that the mutation, which experts are worried about, could be resistant to some vaccines, was detected in a resident of Nassau County. The announcement comes days after a Connecticut resident tested positive for a variant in a New York hospital.

“It’s more important than ever for New Yorkers to stay vigilant, wear masks, wash their hands and stay socially removed. We’re in a race right now between our ability to vaccinate and these actively trying options. to proliferate and we will only win that race if we remain smart and disciplined, “Cuomo said.

The South African variant, known as B.1.351, was first detected in the United States in late January and was found in at least 10 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 21 infections have been reported in the country.

The mutation is one of three strains of particular concern that the agency is monitoring, along with variants first identified in the United Kingdom and Japan.

The CDC said preliminary evidence from publications that are not evaluated by colleagues suggests that the Moderna vaccine may be less effective against the South African variant. He warned that more studies were needed.

The Modern Vaccine is one of two federally approved vaccines in the United States. Three other vaccines are currently in clinical trials.

Cuomo’s announcement came as the number of new daily cases and hospitalizations in New York and across the country continued to decline. Some public health experts have warned that new mutations, which are thought to be more transmissible, could reverse these trends.