First Case Of UK Coronavirus Variant Found In Boston

BOSTON — The first of the particularly contagious new strain of COVID-19 first detected in England last month has been reported in Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

A Boston woman in her 20s started getting symptoms shortly after traveling home from the United Kingdom, the health department said. She had tested negative prior to leaving the UK. The woman was interviewed by contact tracers when she tested positive, and close contacts were identified. She is being re-interviewed by public health officials now that the variant has been identified as the cause of illness.

So far, there have been 88 reported cases of the B117 COVID-19 coronavirus variant across the country, including in New York, California, Florida and Colorado.

Earlier this month Gov. Charlie Baker asked residents to remain vigilant because, he said, he assumed the strain was already in Massachusetts.

"I think most of us are working on the assumption that it's here," Baker said. "There'd be no reason not to given the contagious nature of this new variant."

On of Jan. 16 there were 4,283 people who tested positive for the virus in the commonwealth, bringing the total since March to 448,311 here.

Given how much more contagious this coronavirus variant and the number of states and other countries that have found infected cases, the department said they expected the variant to arrive in Massachusetts eventually.

The public health risk reduction measures remain the same. Health officials ask the people continue to wear masks or face coverings while out in public, maintain 6-foot distance from people not in your home, stay home when you are sick, and get tested if you have symptoms or are identified as a close contact.

For more on the new strain of COVID-19, read this story from Science Magazine.