According to Dallas County Officials, the first case of a COVID-19 variant that is said to be more contagious, has been identified in Dallas County.
A Dallas man in his twenties, with no history of traveling outside of the U.S., was identified with the new variant ask according to Judge Clay Jenkins the man is stable and being held in isolation.
It was stated that the health department is working hard to notify everyone that may have been in close quarters with the man.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins has stated that the genetic sequencing showed the infection was caused by the variant, it is also the third case within Texas but the first in North Texas.
The other cases were located within Harris County and Nueces County.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins also wrote in a statement- “The emergence of strain B.1.1.7, while inevitable given the mobility of the modern world and the fact that we are a major transport hub, means that there is a strain that is 70% more contagious in our community and it will grow quickly.”
It was first identified in the United Kingdom in September, it was also stated to spread more easily and quicker than other variants, but that it does not appear to cause more severe symptoms. The vaccines that are currently approved have been thought to be effective against the variant.
Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Dr. Philip Huang has stated that- “This is now the third identified case in Texas and we can assume there are more cases in our community due to the nature of this variant and how quickly it spreads. We must remain vigilant in our fight against this virus and continue all preventative and protective measures such as wearing our mask, washing our hands, and physical distancing.”
