detected – COOPER GENERAL NEWS

On January 14, 2021, nurses chatting outside 28 de Agosto Hospital in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil amid the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

MICHAEL DANTAS | AFP | Getty Images

Governor Andrew Cuomo said Saturday that a more contagious variant of Covid-19, originally identified in Brazilian travelers, has now reached New York.

The strain was discovered by scientists at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and verified by the Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center Laboratories. The center collects approximately 90 random samples for genome sequencing every day and has sequenced more than 8,200 samples nationwide.

The patient with the Brazil variant is a Brooklyn resident in their nineties with no travel history, according to a press release.

“The discovery of the Brazilian variant here in New York further underscores the importance of taking all appropriate measures to continue protecting your health,” said Cuomo. The governor urged New Yorkers to continue wearing masks, avoid the crowds and get vaccinated if necessary.

The Brazilian strain, designated P.1, was first identified in four travelers from Brazil who were tested during a screening in Tokyo, Japan, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The P.1 variant was discovered in the USA at the end of January. The CDC has since reported 48 cases nationwide. The strain has a number of additional mutations that could affect its ability to be recognized by antibodies.

There is evidence that the variant is more contagious and may make the vaccine less effective. Oxford University researchers recently released data that was not peer-reviewed, suggesting they may be less resistant to vaccines. However, additional research is needed.

Cuomo’s announcement comes when daily cases increase in New York and 20 other states. In New York, mortality and hospitalization rates are falling as vaccine distribution accelerates.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks out on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) on November 15, 2020 at Riverside Church in Manhattan, New York City, United States.

Andy Kelly | Reuters

Governor Andrew Cuomo said Sunday that a variant of Covid-19, first identified in South Africa, has reached New York.

The governor said at a news conference that the mutation, which experts fear may be resistant to some vaccines, was discovered in a resident of Nassau County. The announcement comes days after a Connecticut resident tested positive for the variant in a New York hospital.

“It is more important than ever for New Yorkers to stay vigilant, wear masks, wash hands, and stay socially aloof. We are currently in a race between our immunity and those variants that are actively trying to reproduce and we’ll just do it. ” You can win this race if we stay smart and disciplined, “said Cuomo.

The South African variant, known as B.1.351, was first discovered in the US in late January and has been found in at least 10 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 21 infections have been reported in the country.

The mutation is one of three strains of very high concern monitored by the agency, along with variants that were first identified in the UK and Japan.

The CDC has said preliminary evidence from untested publications suggests the Moderna vaccine may be “less effective” against the South African variant. It was indicated that further studies are needed.

The Moderna vaccine is one of two federally approved vaccines in the United States. Three other vaccines are currently in clinical trials.

Cuomo’s announcement came as the number of new cases and hospitalizations continued to decline in New York and across the country. Some public health experts have warned that the new mutations that are believed to be more transmissible could reverse these trends.

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