UK Coronavirus Strain Remains NYC's Most Common Variant

New York City NY

10 June, 2021

2:35 PM

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NEW YORK CITY — Just because vaccinations cut down coronavirus cases in New York City doesn't mean dreaded variants are gone. The UK variant — B.1.1.7 — accounts for 43 percent of variant cases in the city, according to a new data page. But while it's the most common variant, it's far from the most common strain still circulating. Data shows it's about 6 percent of cases tested in the city. Mayor Bill de Blasio said the daily average of new COVID-19 cases in the city last measured at 212. Positivity on a seven-day is at 0.71 percent, he said. "Good, good numbers today," he said Thursday. "Keep getting vaccinated." Variants could carry mutations that make them easier to spread. This caused concern for experts when COVID-19 vaccination rates were lower, but it appears the vaccines remain effective against variants. See the new variant data page here.