MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – State health officials say a new, more infectious strain of COVID-19 has made its way to Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Health confirmed on Thursday that the COVID variant first detected in the United Kingdom was identified in five people in the Twin Cities. Cases range from 15 to 37 years. They reported feeling unwell between December 16 and 31.
Dr. George Morris and other health experts believe the new variant is more contagious.
“We’ve had over 90 million cases identified worldwide and having so many cases without expecting viral changes or changes, this is unrealistic,” Morris said.
He says the more familiar strain of COVID is about a 10% chance that an infected person will spread it to at least one other person.
(credit: CDC / NIAID)
“With this new variant, the B-117, it looks like it’s more than 15%, maybe 20%, so it’s growing,” Morris said.
However, the variant is not believed to be more deadly. However, Dr. Morris says it could cause more deaths by spreading vulnerable populations faster.
“If the usual coronavirus spreads to 10,000 people, we will have a certain death rate,” he said. “But if this new variant expands to 20,000 people, we will have more deaths.”
Therefore, experts continue to encourage the practice of measures such as social distancing and wearing a mask.
The good news is that preliminary studies show that COVID vaccines will provide protection against the new strain.
“We need to keep focusing on the things we’ve identified that are helpful,” Morris said. “Trust the scientists, use our reliable source of information and continue these conversations.”
Of the five new cases identified in Minnesota, only two reported recent international travel. None of the five people were hospitalized.