New Coronavirus Strain Arrives In PA: 5 Things To Know

PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania officials have confirmed the presence of the first case of a new COVID-19 strain, first discovered in England last month.

The variant has caused concern in the United States and around the world because evidence suggests it is significantly more contagious than other strains of the coronavirus.

Here are five things to know about it:

Where and how did this variant arrive in Pennsylvania?

The confirmed case, announced Thursday, is in Dauphin County, the Pennsylvania Department of Health said. "This variant is the same one that was first discovered in England in December," according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The person tested positive with the new strain after known international exposure, state officials said.

What makes the variant different?

The new strain was first detected in the U.K. in September 2020 and has become highly prevalent in London and southeast England, according to the CDC. The variant appears to be spread more easily, but so far evidence suggests it doesn’t cause a more serious illness or a greater chance of death than other COVID-19 strains.

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the variant was 50 to 70 percent more contagious than other strains.

Viruses constantly mutate as they replicate over and over, according to the CDC. Sometimes the variants aren’t much different from the original virus and disappear.

Much still needs to be learned about the new variant, officials say.

“Public health experts are in the early stages of working to better understand this new variant, how it spreads and how it affects people who are infected with it," Health Secretary Rachel Levine said Thursday.

Will the coronavirus vaccine work against the new variant?

Scientists continue to study whether approved vaccines will be as effective against the new strain. So far there is no evidence that the vaccine won’t be effective and scientists believe more studies will confirm that, according to the CDC.

What other steps can I take to avoid the variant?

The general medical advice of social distancing, mask use and good hand hygiene work to help prevent the spread of the variant.

“There is still much to learn about this new variant, so we need to remain vigilant and continue to urge Pennsylvanians to stop the spread by washing their hands, practicing social distancing, avoiding gatherings, downloading COVID Alert PA and answering the call. Stay calm, stay alert and stay safe," Levine said.

Are there any other concerning variants?

Another variant that was discovered in South Africa is causing concern as well.

Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said changes in the South African strain could potentially make antibodies less effective. It could also potentially defeat current coronavirus tests.

A recent study also suggested that convalescent plasma therapy wasn’t as effective against the South African variant. The therapy takes blood plasma from someone previously infected with the coronavirus and gives it to another person as a way to help fight off the virus.

“That’s a suggestion that even prior exposure, prior immunity may not be totally protective against this strain,” he said in a CNBC interview.

However, vaccines should still be mostly effective against the new variant because they use the entire key spike protein, Gottleib said. The variants have changes to some parts of the spike protein, but not to the whole thing.

With reporting by Rich Scinto of Patch