Mar 11, 2021

UK COVID-19 variant discovered in South Dakota for 1st time

Posted Mar 11, 2021 8:54 PM

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — State Department of Health officials say the variant strain of the coronavirus first detected in the United Kingdom has now been confirmed in South Dakota.

Health officials say two cases have been reported and both of the patients recovered at home. State Secretary of Health Kim Malsam-Rysdon says her department has been “closely monitoring” the progression of the new variant.

The strain of the virus was first detected in the United Kingdom in September 2020 and has been found in numerous countries around the world.

It is thought to be more contagious than other previously identified strains.

South Dakota health officials on Thursday reported 203 new virus cases, increasing the total number of positive tests to 114,163 since the start of the pandemic.