1st U.S. Case Of Coronavirus Variant Reported In CO: What To Know

Denver CO

30 December, 2020

2:26 PM

Description

DENVER, CO — The first case of a coronavirus variant — one that was discovered in the United Kingdom — has been reported in Colorado, and another "suspected case" has also been reported in the state. Preliminary research shows the new variant is more contagious but not more severe, health officials said. A Colorado National Guard member tested positive for the coronavirus, and his test revealed the COVID-19 virus variant B.1.1.7, officials said. Another National Guard member may also have been infected with the variant, but further tests are required to confirm the second case, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. In a news conference Wednesday morning, Gov. Jared Polis and Colorado public health officials said an investigation was underway in Elbert County, where the first case was reported. "The individual is a man in his 20s, who is working in Simla," Polis said. "He is currently recovering in isolation [with] mild symptoms, and our public health officials are working diligently to identify anyone else who may have been exposed." Both personnel were deployed Dec. 23 to help staff at Simla's Good Samaritan Society nursing home, according to Dr. Rachel Herlihy, a state health department epidemiologist. "Cases of COVID-19 were first identified in that facility in mid-December," Herlihy said. "Right now, we are currently investigating two possibilities for how these individuals may have gotten their infections. First, the National Guard personnel could've got their infections while working at the Simla facility," she said. "Second, they could've acquired their infection through other work or personal activities prior to arriving at the facility," Herlihy said. Neither Guard member traveled internationally before they were deployed, she said. More testing was underway Wednesday for all residents and staff at the nursing home, but preliminary tests show the variant has not spread in the facility, health officials said. "We're also looking into the second possibility, which is [that] exposure happened outside the Simla facility," Herlihy said. "We have an extensive investigation underway to identify all contacts the cases may have had in the two weeks leading up to their deployment, as well as any other contacts outside of the facility they may have had during their deployment." An analysis of the first Colorado National Guard member's test revealed that a "signal" — for what's called the "S-gene" — wasn't detected in his case, and the absence of the signal is considered an essential signature for the B.1.1.7 variant, public health officials said. "This is unlikely to be the first person with the variant here in the United States — there are likely many," Polis said. The variant was first found in the U.K. in September. "It was noted in the southeast part of England that the number of cases was rising quickly in that part of the country, and on further investigation, they found that this variant seemed to be the dominant form of the COVID virus in that community," said Dr. Eric France, chief medical officer with the Colorado health department. "From there, they've concluded that this variant can be transmitted more quickly ... estimates of 50 to 70 percent increased transmission," France said. "If it's more transmissible, that means we'll have more cases in our communities ... and, of course, with more cases come more hospitalizations — more ICU beds being filled, and the potential of overwhelming the health care system," he said. Public health officials across the U.S. are urging people to wear masks, keep at least 6 feet away from those who aren't in their household and wash their hands as frequently as possible to prevent the spread of the coronavirus — and this new variant.