First known case of UK variant of COVID-19 is confirmed in Placer County

Placer County Communications and the Public Affairs Office on Friday afternoon announced the first known case of the B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the county. Placer County Health and Human Services Director and Interim Health Officer Dr. Rob Oldham said it's reasonable to expect variants are everywhere at this point. "Placer's number came up," he said in an interview with the Auburn Journal shortly after the announcement. While the U.K. variant, as it's known, is considerably more transmissible than the "garden variety virus," and "maybe slightly more severe," according to Oldham – "That's the bad news," he said – the good news is B.1.1.7 appears to be responsive "if someone has antibodies after being infected or vaccinated." While COVID-19 has claimed the lives of more than 536,000 Americans, 56,000 Californians and 244 Placer County residents, it's not as lethal as other viruses. But COVID-19 is different from SARS and H1N1 because of its spread through asymptomatic transmission, "which makes this so much more difficult to contain," according to Oldham. "Sometimes, people never get sick or they spread it before they get sick," he said. H1N1 targeted younger people. COVID-19 has targeted vulnerable groups which, with asymptomatic spread, combined for a "1-2 punch," Oldham said. More than 250 cases of B.1.1.7 have been identified in California. While the first case of the U.K. variant was announced Friday afternoon, Oldham said there are probably many more cases of B.1.1.7 "out there." "That cat's already out of the bag," he said. Oldham stressed in the news release that people should continue to wear a mask and distance to help control the spread of the virus. The news release noted that initial studies show the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines provide protection against the B.1.1.7 variant. Those eligible for vaccination in Placer County include healthcare workers, long-term care residents, people aged 65 and over, education and childcare workers, food and agriculture workers, emergency services workers, public transit workers, janitorial workers and those 16-64 with certain underlying health conditions. Visit www.placer.ca.gov/vaccineclinics for appointment availability. Text PLACERVACCINE to the number 898211 to receive text alerts. For more information, visit www.placer.ca.gov/coronavirus/.