PHOENIX – A variant of the coronavirus first detected in the UK is reportedly headed to Arizona, sources told ABC15.
Sources alerted ABC15 on Friday that the variant, which has been shown to spread more easily from person to person, has been detected in our state and officials are in contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on his arrival.
The state is expected to release more information about the variant sometime on Friday.
Preliminary UK data suggests the coronavirus variant detected in that country last fall may be more deadly, according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
According to reports, the evidence comes from the analysis of trends in the number of people dying with the UK variant versus the old variants. The BBC reports that the new variant appears to be 30% more deadly.
It was first identified in England in September and became the dominant strain in a few months, leading to further measures to block the British government.
Earlier this month, the CDC warned that the UK variant could be extended to the United States in March.
Some welcome news is that some vaccines still seem to be protected from some variants, including the UK variant.