(Getty Images photo)
PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Health Services in Arizona said in a press release Friday night, the COVID-19 version that spreads rapidly has been found in Arizona.
AZDHS, Maricopa County Department of Public Health, Pinal County Public Health Services and Arizona State University have confirmed variants (B.1.1.7) in three test samples from the state.
Although the variant spreads rapidly, according to the release, studies suggest that vaccines authorized to fight COVID-19 are still effective against the variant.
According to the release, it is not known what variant could spread in Arizona.
The United Kingdom identified new tensions in the fall of 2020, the first case of which was found in the United States in late December.
Health officials say it is typical to replace the virus through mutation, with the new form of the virus occurring over time. According to the release, some new variants emerge and disappear, while others appear and swing.
The state’s health department is working with laboratory and public health partners, including the Centers for Disease Control, to monitor the situation, according to the release.
Health officials are proving to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to people, including wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, and washing hands.
Health officials in Arizona reported 5,028 new coronovirus cases on Friday and 203 additional deaths from COVID-19.
According to the Arizona Department of Health Services’ COVID-19 dashboard, the state’s documented totals were 748,260 infections and 13,022 fatalities.
.