Pasadena Public Health Department Confirms First Case of B.1.1.7., U.K. variant, in Pasadena Resident
Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) has received the first confirmed report of infection in a Pasadena resident with the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7. This variant was first identified in the United Kingdom, spreads more easily and quickly (about 50% increased transmission) than other variants, and likely causes more severe disease based on hospitalizations and case fatality rates. The person infected in Pasadena was an adult, and the variant was identified through California Department of Public Health genomic surveillance testing of laboratory specimens. To date, PPHD has linked 10 other laboratory confirmed cases among Pasadena residents (for whom sequencing is not currently available) through contact tracing. In California, 265 cases of the B 1.1.7 variant have been reported. To protect the privacy of the individual, no further information will be released.
“These cases illustrate why it is so important to limit non-essential travel and mixing households as much as possible during a pandemic. This is also a stark reminder that we cannot let our guard down. We are so thankful that so many Pasadena residents who are currently eligible are receiving the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, and that we are now in the red tier of the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, but we are not out of the woods yet,” said Dr. Ying-Ying Goh, health officer and director of Pasadena Public Health Department. “If you must travel, it is important to watch for symptoms of COVID-19, follow public health guidance on getting tested prior to travel, use careful protective measures during travel, and get tested after travel. If you’re traveling out-of-state, Pasadena residents are required to self-quarantine for 10 days after arrival in accordance with local and state travel advisories.” If you are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, you can submit this COVID-19 vaccine inquiry form to be notified when PPHD vaccine clinic appointments become available. Even when fully vaccinated, it is important to follow the 3 Ws: wear your mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance; avoid crowds. More information on variants is available: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-Variants.aspx www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/transmission/variant.html ¬Stay connected to the City of Pasadena! Visit us online at www.cityofpasadena.net; follow us on Twitter at @PasadenaGov, and Instagram and Facebook at @CityOfPasadena; or call the Citizen Service Center, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at (626) 744-7311. |
|