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PHOENIX: A faster-moving COVID-19 variant has been detected in Arizona, the Arizona Department of Health Services said Friday.
AZDHS, the Yuma County Public Health Services District, and the Translational Genomics Research Institute report that variant CO1 COVID-19, commonly known as the Brazilian variant, has been confirmed in three test samples of the state.
Although the variant is spreading faster, studies suggest that vaccines authorized to fight COVID-19 are still effective against the variant, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It is unknown to what extent the variant can be extended to Arizona, officials say.
The new strain was first identified in Brazil, and the first case was detected in the United States in January.
The state health department is working with laboratory and public health partners, including the Centers for Disease Control, to monitor the situation, according to the statement.
The so-called “UK variant” was detected in Arizona in January.
Health officials are urging citizens to follow proven mitigation strategies to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including wearing a mask, keeping physical distance, and washing their hands.