Covid variant of South Africa first detected in New York resident

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday that a variant of Covid-19 first identified in South Africa has arrived in New York.

The governor said at a news conference that the mutation, which experts worry may be resistant to some vaccines, was detected in a Nassau county resident. The announcement comes days after a Connecticut resident tested positive for the variant at a New York City hospital.

“It’s more important than ever for New Yorkers to be vigilant, put on masks, wash their hands and stay socially distanced. Right now we’re in a race, between our vaccination capacity and those variants that are actively trying to proliferate, and only that. we will win this race if we stay smart and disciplined, ”Cuomo said.

The South African variant, known as B.1.351, was first detected in the United States in late January and has been found in at least ten states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There have been 21 infections reported in the country.

The mutation is one of three particularly troubling strains the agency is monitoring, along with variants first identified in the UK and Japan.

The CDC has said preliminary evidence from peer-reviewed publications suggests that the Modern vaccine “may be less effective” against the South African variant. He warned that more studies are needed.

The Modern vaccine is one of two federally approved vaccines in the United States. Three more vaccines are currently in clinical trials.

Cuomo’s announcement came as the number of new cases and daily hospitalizations in New York and across the country continues to decline. Some public health experts have warned that new mutations, which are believed to be more transmissible, could reverse these trends.