437 Coronavirus Variant Cases Confirmed in the USA

The emerging variants the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring have mutations in the coronavirus genome that alter the characteristics and cause the virus to act differently in ways that are significant to public health actions and treatments. It’s important to understand genetic mutations are expected, and some variants can spread and become predominant while others subside, says the CDC.

As of January 30, 2021, the U.S. CDC reported the following number of variant cases in 30 states:

• UK B.1.1.7 = 434
• South Africa B.1.351 = 2
• Brazil P.1 = 1

The cases identified above are based on a sampling of SARS-CoV-2-positive specimens and do not represent the total number of B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1 lineage cases that may be circulating in the USA and may not match numbers reported by states, territories, tribes, and local officials, says the CDC.