Tuesday, February 16, 2021
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) announced Tuesday that variant B.1.1.7 of COVID-19 has been identified in samples from three Rhode Island patients.
The variant was identified in these tests last night. One patient was 60 years old, one patient was 50 years old and one patient was 20 years old.
These samples were sequenced as part of the RIDOH COVID-19 genomic surveillance plan. These cases are still under investigation. The sequencing was performed by the Broad Institute, in collaboration with the state health laboratories RIDOH. This sequencing activity is supported by funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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This weekend, MA officials announced that they had detected 29 cases.
Scientists in the UK have also announced that research has shown that the strain is more deadly.
Variant B.1.1.7 was initially identified in the United Kingdom. This variant of COVID-19 is considered more contagious than the strain that prevailed in Rhode Island due to the pandemic.
All Rhode Islands are asked to continue wearing masks, social distancing and washing their hands regularly.