South African Coronavirus Variant Reaches MA

Hours after the state reported its fewest daily coronavirus cases since early November, public health officials confirmed a contagious new strain has reached Massachusetts.

The Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported 967 cases of the coronavirus, the first time since Nov. 3 fewer than 1,000 cases have been confirmed. The lower number of cases came on a lower number of tests, 46,488, bumping up the rolling seven-day positive test rate.

Not soon after announcing the daily metrics, the DPH confirmed the first case of the South African variant of the virus here.

A Middlesex County woman in her 20s tested positive for the B.1.351 variant. She has not reported traveling recently.

"The B.1.351 variant is known to spread easily," the DPH said.

There are two other "variants of concern" identified across the globe, according to the DPH. Variant B.1.1.7, first found in the United Kingdom, has 34 confirmed cases in Massachusetts. Variant P.1, first discovered in Brazil, has not yet been confirmed here.

The variants are thought to be more contagious but not more deadly or resistant to vaccines.

"The best defense against a rapid rise in cases from variants of concern is to prevent the spread of COVID," the DPH said.