Hawaii Confirms Presence Of More Contagious COVID-19 Variant

The state of Hawaii confirmed Friday that a more contagious variant of COVID-19 that originated in the United Kingdom has infected one person on Oahu.

Three other people also had positive tests that included a molecular signal consistent with the so-called B.1.1.7 variant. The state is still analyzing specimens to verify the variant.

The patient with the confirmed case did not have a recent history of travel.

“That indicates that it came from somewhere in the community,” Dr. Sarah Kemble, the acting state epidemiologist, said at a press conference Friday. “There is some community transmission.”

Read more: https://www.civilbeat.org/beat/hawaii-confirms-presence-of-more-contagious-covid-19-variant/