GREENSBORO, N.C. — Guilford County Division of Public Health has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 B.1.1.7 Variant in Guilford County.
The health department got confirmation of the variant on January 27. The person is in isolation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducts random surveillance on COVID-19 test samples to further investigate for potential variant strains. This positive case’s sample was randomly selected for additional variant testing which returned positive for the B.1.1.7 variant, first detected in the United Kingdom.
According to the CDC, the B.1.1.7 variant is a more highly transmissible variant of COVID-19 which has been detected in 21 U.S. states as of January 22, 2021.
Current COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be effective against the new variant.
Dr. Iulia Vann, Guilford County Public Health Director stated, “Due to the B.1.1.7 variant being highly transmissible, we are currently conducting contact tracing and will continue to heavily monitor this case."
Wake Forest Baptist Health Chief of Infectious Diseases Dr. John Sanders said one of the biggest concerns for mutations is whether treatment or vaccines will be effective against the new mutations.
"The good news is so far tests indicate that they do work that the immunity generated by that vaccine works effectively against these mutations," said Sanders.
The first U.K. variant in North Carolina was confirmed in Mecklenburg County.
Health officials continue to encourage wearing a mask, washing your hands, and standing six feet apart from others.
Sanders said that will be key in stopping the virus from spreading and mutating any further.
"We know the things that we already know," said Sanders, "Spacing, masking handwashing are going work for these variant strains just like they work for the strain that’s already circulating."
North Carolina's modified stay-at-home order remains in effect through February 28.