Officials at UT say UK variant found on campus

University of Texas at Austin officials say the COVID-19 variant first discovered in the United Kingdom has been detected on its campus.

Terrance Hines, chief medical officer of UT’s University Health Services, and Amy Young, Dell Medical School Chief Clinical Officer of UT Health Austin, wrote in a letter to the community Friday that the variant, known as B.1.1.7, was discovered through oncampus testing, monitoring and sequencing, which helps scientists further understand the spread and control of the new coronavirus.

The news of the variant is not surprising. UT’s COVID-19 modelers have suggested that there are other variants in the Austin area, and the Austin Public Health reported a separate variant case last Wednesday.