The Iowa Department of Public Health on Wednesday confirmed 38 additional cases of the COVID-19 variant, SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7. in Iowa. The health department said the variant is often referred to as the U.K. variant because it was first detected in the United Kingdom.“This increase in the number of detected variants comes in part as a result of increasing the number of tests being sequenced by the State Hygienic Lab (SHL) for the B.1.1.7 variant,” health department officials said through a news release. “This increase further supports that we know this variant is circulating here in the state of Iowa, in addition to being found across the United States.”Health department officials said they are in contact with those infected to better understand their exposures and recommend mitigation measures. The process includes notifying those who have been in close contact. They are being asked to isolate in accordance with IDPH and the Centers for Disease Control guidance. “Because current evidence shows the current vaccines are effective against the B.1.1.7 variant, it’s absolutely critical for Iowans to get the vaccine when one is made available to them. As viruses are known to change a bit over time and variants can sometimes be more easily transmissible, reaching herd immunity will be very important in reducing virus activity. Public health will continue to work with our partners at SHL to monitor these trends and it is very important that we all keep practicing good public health-protective measures,” shared Dr. Caitlin Pedati, State Medical Director and Epidemiologist.Find out how you can get vaccinated in Iowa here.
DES MOINES, Iowa —
The Iowa Department of Public Health on Wednesday confirmed 38 additional cases of the COVID-19 variant, SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7. in Iowa.
The health department said the variant is often referred to as the U.K. variant because it was first detected in the United Kingdom.
“This increase in the number of detected variants comes in part as a result of increasing the number of tests being sequenced by the State Hygienic Lab (SHL) for the B.1.1.7 variant,” health department officials said through a news release. “This increase further supports that we know this variant is circulating here in the state of Iowa, in addition to being found across the United States.”
Health department officials said they are in contact with those infected to better understand their exposures and recommend mitigation measures. The process includes notifying those who have been in close contact. They are being asked to isolate in accordance with IDPH and the Centers for Disease Control guidance.
“Because current evidence shows the current vaccines are effective against the B.1.1.7 variant, it’s absolutely critical for Iowans to get the vaccine when one is made available to them. As viruses are known to change a bit over time and variants can sometimes be more easily transmissible, reaching herd immunity will be very important in reducing virus activity. Public health will continue to work with our partners at SHL to monitor these trends and it is very important that we all keep practicing good public health-protective measures,” shared Dr. Caitlin Pedati, State Medical Director and Epidemiologist.
Find out how you can get vaccinated in Iowa here.