The first known case of the COVID-19 variant P.1 that initially emerged in Brazil was detected in Yolo County, officials with UC Davis said Thursday.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified the P.1 variant as a “variant of concern” due to higher transmission rates.”They’re much more infectious; they can be twice as infectious as the nonvariant versions of the virus. We still have some concerns, whether they may be causing more severe disease if you do get infected,” said Brad Pollock, Associate Dean for Public Health Sciences at the UC Davis School of Medicine.“There’s no question that as travel picks up you’ve got the ability to have the virus to be transported long distances and in a couple of hours in an airplane,” adding that the more people that are infected, the more likely it is to mutate.This variant is the third variant of concern in Davis, following the B.1.351 and B.1.1.7. Across California, the P.1 variant has caused 166 cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday, according to the California Department of Public Health.Officials said the person who tested positive with the variant is aware of the results and under isolation. The person also lives in Davis and has not received the COVID-19 vaccine.“The detection of another highly transmissible variant is concerning, especially as things begin to open up again and more people are out and about,” said Aimee Sisson, Yolo County public health officer, in a press release.“It’s as important as ever to adhere to public health measures, including masking, physical distancing and regular testing, to keep the transmission of the virus as low as possible while we accelerate our vaccination efforts,” Sisson continued.
DAVIS, Calif. —
The first known case of the COVID-19 variant P.1 that initially emerged in Brazil was detected in Yolo County, officials with UC Davis said Thursday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified the P.1 variant as a “variant of concern” due to higher transmission rates.
“They’re much more infectious; they can be twice as infectious as the nonvariant versions of the virus. We still have some concerns, whether they may be causing more severe disease if you do get infected,” said Brad Pollock, Associate Dean for Public Health Sciences at the UC Davis School of Medicine.
“There’s no question that as travel picks up you’ve got the ability to have the virus to be transported long distances and in a couple of hours in an airplane,” adding that the more people that are infected, the more likely it is to mutate.
This variant is the third variant of concern in Davis, following the B.1.351 and B.1.1.7. Across California, the P.1 variant has caused 166 cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Officials said the person who tested positive with the variant is aware of the results and under isolation. The person also lives in Davis and has not received the COVID-19 vaccine.
“The detection of another highly transmissible variant is concerning, especially as things begin to open up again and more people are out and about,” said Aimee Sisson, Yolo County public health officer, in a press release.
“It’s as important as ever to adhere to public health measures, including masking, physical distancing and regular testing, to keep the transmission of the virus as low as possible while we accelerate our vaccination efforts,” Sisson continued.