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 samples yesterday evening. One patient was about 60 years old, one patient was 50 years old, and one patient was twenty years old.
These samples were sequenced as part of RIDOH’s COVID-19 genomic surveillance plan. These cases are still being investigated. Sequencing was performed by the Broad Institute, in collaboration with RIDOH State Health Laboratories. This sequencing work is supported by funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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This weekend MA officials have announced that they have detected 29 cases.
And UK scientists announced that research showed the strain is more deadly.
Variant B.1.1.7 was originally identified in the United Kingdom. This variant of COVID-19 is considered more contagious than the strain that has been prevalent in Rhode Island through the pandemic.
All Rhode Islanders are urged to continue wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and washing their hands regularly.