South African Virus Variant Confirmed in South Carolina

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated on January 28, 2021, it 'is aware that the first documented cases of the B 1.351 variant of SARS-CoV-2 have been identified in South Carolina. At this time, the CDC has no evidence that infections by this variant from South Africa cause more severe disease. Like the UK and Brazilian variants, preliminary data suggests the South African variant may spread more easily and quickly than other coronavirus variants.

Monitoring variants is why CDC has expanded National SARS-CoV-2 Strain Surveillance and will continue working with national reference laboratories, state health departments, and researchers from around the country to gather sequence data and increase genomic use sequencing data in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CDC recommends that people avoid travel at this time. However, additional measures have been put in place to increase safety for those who must travel.

Effective January 26, 2021, the CDC requires all air passengers two years of age and over entering the USA (including U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents) to present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within three calendar days of departure​, or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days.