COVID-19 Variant Initially Reported In Europe Now Found In U.S.: Report

The COVID-19 variant initially reported to be found in the United Kingdom has reportedly been discovered in the United States.

Governor Jared Polis announced the coronavirus variant was found in a Colorado man in his 20s, the Associated Press reports.

State officials confirmed the man is in isolation southeast of Denver and is believed to have no travel history that would lead to others contracting the virus. The Colorado State Laboratory confirmed it was the same virus variant and notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the discovery.

Scientists in the United Kingdom believe the new virus variant is more contagious than the initial identified coronavirus strains of the SARS-CoV-2, however, the vaccines currently being distributed are believed to be effective against the new variant, according to Colorado health officials via a news release obtained by the AP.

Public health officials are reportedly investigating other possible cases and undergoing contract tracing to ensure that the variant doesn't continue spread throughout the state of Colorado.

“There is a lot we don’t know about this new COVID-19 variant, but scientists in the United Kingdom are warning the world that it is significantly more contagious. The health and safety of Coloradans is our top priority, and we will closely monitor this case, as well as all COVID-19 indicators, very closely,” Polis said via the Associated Press.

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