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First Case of B.1.351 COVID-19 variant arrives in Illinois

IDPH says continued mask wearing and vaccination are essential

By Denise M. Baran-Unland
A patient receives their second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, at the Will County Health Department in Joliet, Ill. The Will County Health Department is accelerating vaccination efforts throughout the region.

A patient receives their second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, at the Will County Health Department in Joliet, Ill. The Will County Health Department is accelerating vaccination efforts throughout the region. The Illinois Department of Public Health says vaccination is essential to preventing the spread of the virus, including its variants. (Geoff Stellfox - gstellfox@shawmedia.com/Geoff Stellfox - gstellfox@shawmedia.com)

The COVID-19 variant B.1.351, which was first identified in South Africa, is now in Illinois, the Illinois Department of Public Health said on Thursday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the variant in a Rock Island resident, IDPH said.

Illinois is currently reporting 22 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant, first identified in the United Kingdom.

“We expected to see more cases of variants detected in Illinois, including the B.1.351 strain,” IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike, said in a news release from IDPH. “These variants seem to spread more rapidly, which can lead to more cases of COVID-19 and even another surge. Our best path to defeating this virus as quickly as possible remains wearing our masks and getting vaccinated when it’s our turn.”

Wearing a facemask, staying at least 6 feet apart from others, avoiding crowds, ventilating indoor spaces and washing hands frequently are still the best tools for preventing the spread of this virus, regardless of the strain, the release said.

Cases of the B.1.351 were first reported in the U.S. at the end of January. So far, studies suggest that antibodies generated through the current COVID-19 vaccines recognize these variants and may offer some protection. Additional studies are underway.

In addition to the B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants, the P.1 variant has emerged in Brazil.

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine information and data, visit dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccine-faq.