Florida health officials announced Thursday that they have detected the new, more infectious strain of coronavirus, making it the third U.S. state to report a virus variant.
The new strain was first found in the United Kingdom.
“Florida has evidence of the first identified case of COVID-19 in the UK in Martin County. The individual is a 20-year-old man with no travel history. The department is working with the CDC on this investigation. We encourage everyone to continue practicing COVID-19 mitigation, “the Florida Department of Health said Thursday.
Florida has evidence of the first identified case of COVID-19 in the UK in Martin County. The individual is a 20-year-old man with no travel history. The department is working with the CDC on this investigation. We encourage everyone to continue to practice COVID-19 mitigation.
– Florida Dept. Health (@HealthyFla) January 1, 2021
Colorado and California detected both cases of the strain this week.
The new strain, called B.1.1.7, was first detected in Colorado on Tuesday and was found in a 20-year-old man who had not traveled.
On Wednesday, a California health official announced that the patient infected with the new strain was a 30-year-old man and had no travel history, according to Politico.
The Florida Department of Health added: “At this time, experts anticipate little or no impact on the effectiveness of COVID-19.”
Florida has evidence of the first identified case of COVID-19 in the UK in Martin County. The individual is a 20-year-old man with no travel history. The department is working with the CDC on this investigation. We encourage everyone to continue to practice COVID-19 mitigation.
– Florida Dept. Health (@HealthyFla) January 1, 2021
Health experts and pharmaceutical companies have said that current vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna are considered to be effective against the new strain, although several tests are being carried out to confirm its effectiveness.
Although it is more infectious, it is not thought to cause more severe symptoms or is more deadly.