The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) has confirmed two cases of COVID-19 in Maryland residents caused by the new SARS-CoV-2 variant strain commonly known as B-117.
The two cases announced today involve residents in the Baltimore region who are both under 65 years old and live in the same household. One of the two infected had traveled internationally and it is thought that one individual transmitted the virus to the other. Neither patient has needed to be hospitalized.
The variant strain first emerged in the United Kingdom in late 2020. The strain has not been shown to cause more severe illness or increased risk of death when compared to other strains. The strain, however, has been shown to be more transmissible than other strains. There is no evidence that the current COVID-19 vaccines are less effective on the B-117 strain.
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