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PHOENIX – A fast-spreading COVID-19 variant has been found in Arizona, the Arizona Department of Health Services said in a press release Friday night.
Reports from AZDHS, Maricopa County Department of Public Health, Pinal County Public Health Services and Arizona State University have been confirmed in three test samples from the state.
While the variant spreads rapidly, according to the publication, studies suggest that the official vaccine to fight Covid-19 is still effective against the variant.
According to the release, it is not known how widely the variant is spread in Arizona.
The United Kingdom identified a new strain in the fall of 2020, with the first case of the variant found in the United States in late December.
While health officials say mutations are typical of mutations, new types of viruses are expected to emerge over time. According to the release some new types emerge and disappear, while others appear and are delayed.
The state health department is working with health partners, including laboratories and disease control centers, to monitor the situation, the release said.
Health officials are urging people to adhere to proven mitigation strategies to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including wearing masks, maintaining physical distance and washing hands.
Health officials in Arizona on Friday reported 5,028 new coronavirus cases and 203 additional deaths from Covid-19.
The state-documented average moved to 748,260 infections and 13,022 casualties, according to the Covid-19 dashboard of the Arizona Department of Health Services.
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