First case of virus variant in Mass. confirmed

City woman in 20s had gone to England

The first case of the more infectious coronavirus variant has been confirmed in Massachusetts, state health officials announced on Sunday.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced that the first case of the COVID-19 variant (B.1.1.7) has been detected in Massachusetts. This is the same variant initially discovered in the United Kingdom.

The person — a Boston woman in her 20s — developed symptoms in early January and tested positive for COVID-19, DPH said. A genetic sample was then sent to an out-of-state laboratory as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s surveillance process to identify COVID-19 variants.

On Saturday, the State Public Health Laboratory was notified of the results.

The Boston woman in her 20s had traveled to the U.K. and became sick on the day after she returned to Massachusetts. She had tested negative prior to leaving the U.K.

She was interviewed by contact tracers at the time of the initial positive result, and close contacts were identified. Now that the variant has been identified as the cause of illness, she’s being reinterviewed by public health officials.

The CDC has reported 88 cases from 14 U.S. states.

“Given the increased transmissibility of this variant and the number of states and other countries that have found infected cases, the Department expected the variant to arrive in Massachusetts eventually,” the DPH said in a statement. “The public health risk reduction measures remain the same. Individuals must continue to wear masks or face coverings while out in public, maintain 6-foot social distancing, stay home when you are sick, and get tested if you have symptoms or are identified as a close contact.” Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Fauci on Sunday said the U.S. vaccination effort in the fight against COVID-19 will soon get reinforcements as two drugs still under review appear to be moving toward approval.

Since last month, the U.S. has been using vaccines produced by Pfizer and Moderna. Fauci said he expects vaccines made by Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca to get federal approval soon.

“We’re weeks away, not months away,” Fauci said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Fauci also said Presidentelect Joe Biden’s goal of vaccinating 100 million Americans during his first 100 days in office is within reach.

MATT STONE / HERALD STAFF FILE CONCERN GROWS: Vaccinations are given to first responders at the state’s first large-scale COVID-19 vaccination site, operated by CIC Health at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on Jan. 15, Coronavirus worries are growing, now that the more-contagious version of the disease has been found in Massachusetts.