First case of highly-contagious COVID-19 variant from UK discovered in Georgia

Georgia health officials have identified the first case of a highly-contagious COVID-19 variant discovered in the UK

The Georgia Department of Health said the variant was found in an 18-year-old man with no history of travel. He is currently isolating at home.

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The variant was discovered during analysis of a specimen sent by a pharmacy in Georgia to a commercial lab.

Health officials are working to identify the teen’s close contacts and will monitor them closely and test them for the variant.

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“Preliminary epidemiologic information suggests that this variant is significantly more contagious than the SARS-CoV-2 virus. So far, there is no evidence that the B.1.1.7 variant causes more severe illness or increased risk of death,” officials said.

Officials did not release information about where in the state the variant case was discovered.

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