February 16, 2021
British COVID variant spreading wider in Worcester County
Photo | Matt Wright
COVID vaccines have become widely available in Massachusetts.
By Grant Welker
A new coronavirus variant is spreading far more in Worcester County than in other parts of Massachusetts, with 14 new cases reported Sunday by the state Department of Public Health.
Those new cases make up the bulk of the 19 new Massachusetts cases of a variant first found in the United Kingdom. Variants first detected in Brazil and South Africa have yet to be reported in Massachusetts.
Worcester County now has 14 known cases of the U.K. strain, ranging from two patients 18 or younger to one patient in the 60s. No hometowns or other identifying features were released beyond age range and gender.
The first known Massachusetts case of the U.K. variant was reported Jan. 17, and the first Worcester County case was disclosed four days later. The Worcester County patient was said to have recently traveled overseas and was tested at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.
The U.K. strain is more contagious than the most widespread coronavirus that spread worldwide early last year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Studies have also shown it may be more deadly, but the CDC says more information is needed to confirm those findings.
In total, 1,173 cases of the U.K. variant have been reported in 40 states, according to the CDC. Three cases of the Brazilian variant have been reported in two states, and 17 cases of the South African variant in eight states.
Through Monday, Worcester County has had 63,128 total reported coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, according to the DPH.
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