Lyon County now has a case of the COVID-19 UK variant.
Lyon County Public Health confirmed the first case of the variant Friday. The strain, officially known as variant B.1.1.7, apparently spreads more easily and quickly than other variants. It’s also linked to an increased risk of death versus other strains.
With the new strain now part of the local COVID-19 picture, Lyon County Public Health Emergency Preparedness Director Jennifer Millbern is urging people to get vaccinated if they haven’t already done so.
Millbern says the agency is adjusting the quarantine period for exposed residents from 10 to 14 days to account for the new strain.
The new policy, which has no impact on the county’s recently-adjusted public health order, begins Monday.
Speaking of the public health order, Millbern says the presence of the new strain will prompt more discussions on how best to move forward. Public Health will continue to use its main data sets — infection rates, test positivity rates and vaccination rates — and will now include variant data as it determines mitigation strategies for the county.
11:25 am Friday: Lyon County confirms first local case of UK variant; quarantine period to lengthen starting Monday
Lyon County Public Health has confirmed the presence of a significant COVID-19 variant strain.
Public Health says one case of variant B.1.1.7, more commonly known as the UK variant, has been isolated in Lyon County. The UK variant is a concern because it apparently spreads more easily and quickly than other variants. It’s also linked to an increased risk of death versus other strains.
Lyon County Public Health is adjusting the quarantine period for exposed residents from 10 to 14 days to account for the new strain. The new policy, which has no impact on the county’s recently-adjusted public health order, begins Monday.
KVOE News has reached out to Public Health for more information about this development.
