Puerto Rico’s Department of Health said Tuesday that it has identified two cases of a new variant of COVID-19 on the island, a California mutation, B.1.427, that is individually classified despite similarities to others.
Currently, only 28 cases of different variants have been counted on the island, 18 of which responded to the British variable (B.1.1.7), six cases of the California variable (B.1.429), two cases of this new California variable (B.1.427) and two From the Brazilian alternative (P.2), according to a statement.
We cannot control the mutations, but we can literally maintain prevention protocols. “The key is to wear a mask and ensure physical distancing and hand-washing to avoid infection,” said Puerto Rican Health Minister Carlos Mellado.
According to Mellado, DS is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in San Juan (CDC). This laboratory arranges samples with the Ponce University of Health Sciences (PHSU).
Cases are also being processed by several labs on the island that collect samples and send them to the CDC in Atlanta.
Of the 28 cases, 26 variable are considered to be of concern because the evidence indicates that they have a greater susceptibility to transmission. On the contrary, the variant in question has specific genetic markers to which changes have been associated that allow transmission of the virus; Refers to DS in the statement.
Currently, the two cases of the Brazilian variant correspond to the variables of interest.
According to an epidemiological report released by DS, 11 cases were identified in the Ponce region, seven cases in the metropolitan area, three cases in the Arecibo area, two cases in the Bayamon district, two cases in the Mayaguez area and the other in Fajardo.
The sampling dates for these cases were between January 11, 2021 and March 19, 2021.
“At the moment, we only identified one person between the ages of 60 and 69. Approximately eight cases were in people between the ages of 50-59 years, seven cases were in people between the ages of 40 to 49 years, and four cases were in people between the ages of 30 Up to 39 years old, in addition, seven people between the ages of 20 to 29 years and finally a young person between 16 and 19 years old have been identified, “the report concluded.
The Puerto Rican Ministry of Health said in its report today that 2,136 people have died and 99,780 are confirmed positive cases since the start of the pandemic.
The hospital has a total of 269 adult patients, and there are 37 elderly people on a ventilator due to COVID-19.
