Health & Fitness
MA Reports First Case Of Brazil Coronavirus Variant
A woman in Barnstable County is the first Massachusetts resident to test positive for the coronavirus variant known as P.1, officials said.
The coronavirus variant first found in Brazil has made its way to Massachusetts. The state Department of Public Health said Tuesday the state's first known case of the variant was confirmed in Barnstable County.
A woman in her 30s tested positive for the variant, known as P.1, in late February. Health officials said there is no more information about her illness or whether she recently traveled.
Other variants have already been spreading in Massachusetts. One that originated in the United Kingdom, B.1.1.7, has been confirmed in 213 people here. The B.1.351 variant, first found in South Africa, has been confirmed in six residents.
Find out what's happening in Barnstable-Hyannisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Variants are thought to be more contagious than the original COVID-19 strain, but not more deadly or resistant to vaccines. Health officials say the best defense against all strains of the virus is continuing mitigation protocols like mask-wearing and social distancing.
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