Mar 18, 2021

2 cases of new coronavirus variant found in Omaha

Posted Mar 18, 2021 8:07 PM

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska health officials say a variant of the coronavirus first found in Brazil has been found in Omaha.

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed two people in Douglas County have tested positive for the so-called Brazil P.1 variant.

That strain is believed to be responsible for a surge in hospitalizations in Brazil even though many people there had already developed COVID-19 and made antibodies against it.

State health officials say the Douglas County cases were detected through COVID testing, and investigations into the cases are underway.