Covid 19 coronavirus: UK’s first case of mutant strain in the US

The US state of Colorado has recorded its first case of the mutant strain Covid-19 that sent much of England into a “level 4” lockdown earlier this month.

The 20-year-old Colorado man has no travel history, suggesting to officials that he caught the strain from someone else in the U.S.

The mutant strain is believed to be 70% more transmissible than existing strains.

While it can spread much faster than other strains, there is no evidence to suggest that it is more lethal or that vaccines are ineffective against it.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis revealed the news on social media.

“Public health officials are conducting a thorough investigation. The individual is recovering in isolation and will remain there until authorized by public health officials,” the governor wrote.

“The individual has no identified close contacts so far, but public health officials are working to identify other cases and potential contacts through in-depth contact tracing interviews.”

The appearance of the mutant strain in the UK earlier this month prompted British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to impose severe restrictions on affected areas, affecting some 20 million people.

Nonessential shops, gyms, cinemas, hair salons and bowling alleys were closed, and people were restricted from meeting someone else from another household in a public outdoor space.

“I know how disappointing this is going to be,” Johnson said at the time. “But we have said throughout this pandemic that we must and will be guided by science.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci, America’s leading health expert, warned less than a week ago that the new strain is likely circulating in the country.

“I would not be surprised, given the prevalence of this [new strain] in the UK, we already have cases here at a low level, “said Fauci.

Fauci has also said that the worst period of the pandemic was likely still ahead of the United States, due in large part to the amount of travel that takes place during the holidays.

“It’s very possible that we will see a post-season increase, in the sense of Christmas, New Years, and as I’ve described it, one increase after another,” Fauci told CNN.

“Because if you look at the slope, the slope of the cases that we’ve experienced in late fall and early early winter, it’s really quite worrying.

“We really are at a critical point.”

The number of Covid-19 related deaths in the US stands at more than 335,000.

– additional reports: AP