Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that cases of the COVID-19 variant first detected in Brazil are increasing in the United States.
According to the data released Thursday, there are 434 reported cases of variant P.1 in 28 jurisdictions.
Most cases are recorded in Massachusetts, where there are 102 cases. Other states most affected by variant P.1 include Illinois with 93 cases, Florida with 87 cases, and California with 39 cases.
The P.1. the variant is the second most common variant in the United States, according to the data. The Washington Post noted that this is the first time the variant has reached the second position.
The data comes as the United States faces rising coronavirus infections, even as the daily vaccination rate increases. The increase in cases is likely to be influenced, at least in part, by variants extending to the US
Director of CDC Rochelle WalenskyRochelle Walensky: Night Health Care: White House Rejects Call to Send More Doses of Vaccine to Certain States | White House warns states expect low weekly J&J vaccine shipments Watch live: White House COVID-19 response team reports CDC data showing an increase in the Brazilian variant detected in the US MORE he said Wednesday that variant B.1.1.7, which was first detected in the UK, is now the most dominant strain of the virus in the US. This variant spreads more easily and is able to cause more spikes in infections.
CDC data show that 19,554 strains of variant B.1.1.7 have been reported in 52 U.S. jurisdictions
Meanwhile, there have been 424 cases of variant B.1.351 – which was first detected in South Africa – in the US
Overall, the average of seven days of cases on Thursday was about 64,000, a rise after cases had stalled last month. Still, it is a long way from the peak of the nation in January.