Another Coronavirus 'Variant Of Concern' Detected In King County

SEATTLE — The University of Washington Virology Lab has confirmed the presence of the P.1 coronavirus strain, one of three "variants of concern" found in the United States. King County previously detected the B.1.1.7 variant, first identified in the UK, and the B.1.351 variant linked to South Africa.

The P.1 variant was first identified in travelers from Brazil and arrived in the U.S. in early January. Officials said it is now present in at least 10 states and most recently identified in a COVID-19 test sample in King County.

Related: Washington Ramps Up Efforts To Detect Coronavirus Variants

While there are many unknowns about the third variant of concern, there is some early evidence it is better at dodging immune responses.

"Our understanding of how good the variant strain is at evading our defenses is still evolving; in parts of Brazil it has raised concerns that previously infected people could be more easily reinfected by the P.1 variant," Public Health - Seattle & King County wrote in a blog post. "There is reason to think vaccines may be less effective against this strain, but there have also been more encouraging signs in recent research on the vaccines’ efficacy."

Health officials worry all three variants could contribute to a fourth wave of infections before vaccines are more widely available — unless everyone keeps up their defense.

"If we let our guard down, these variant strains will make us pay," said Dr. Jeff Duchin, health officer for King County. "The upside is that we can take steps to limit the damage. The same precautions that have helped us drive down case counts in the past can also protect us from these variants, as long as we are diligent."

Those preventative measures are the same that have been recommended for months, including consistent use of face coverings in public, limiting social contacts and improving indoor ventilation.

Overall, public health officials said the third variant's arrival should not be cause for alarm but instead serve as an important reminder that the fight against coronavirus is not yet over.

"The appearance of these variants should not discourage us — they should invigorate and motivate us to turn the tide on the pandemic," public health officials wrote Thursday. "The next month or two will be especially important in determining the course of our outbreak, with the threat from new VOCs increasing as we work to get more people protected through vaccination. If we continue strong efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 for a few more months, we will reduce the risk for another serious wave of infections and speed our return to a more normal life."