UK Coronavirus Variant Case Detected In Brooklyn, Cuomo Says

BROOKLYN, NY — A case of the highly-transmittable coronavirus variant from the United Kingdom has been detected in Brooklyn, Gov. Andrwew Cuomo said Friday.

The Brooklyn case is among three new cases of the UK variant confirmed in New York, where a total of 25 cases have been detected since the first case was found in the state just after the New Year. The other two new cases were found in Westchester County, Cuomo said.

He did not specify where in the borough the person with the UK strain was found, but warned that the increase in cases could soon cause a spike in coronavirus rates.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said that the UK variant of the coronavirus could overtake the COVID-19 strain by March.

"That’s how quickly this strain spreads — if that is true you could see the infection rate go up again," Cuomo said.

The Brooklyn case is at least the third case of the UK variant in New York City and seemingly the first in Kings County. The other two New York City cases were confirmed in Manhattan and Queens last week.

The UK variant spreads far faster than the initial wave of coronavirus that prompted continued varying degrees of restrictions and officials have warned that it could outpace the distribution of vaccines against the virus.

Cuomo said Friday that the state would run out of its vaccine supply, if it hadn't already, by the end of the day.

The state is slated to receive 250,400 doses next week, about 43 percent of which head to New York City, Cuomo said.

He pressed President Joe Biden to follow through on his promise to amp up vaccine production to meet a goal of 100 million vaccinations in 100 days.