BARABOO, Wis. — The Sauk County Health Department says it has detected a variant of the coronavirus in the county that is believed to be easier to pass from person-to-person.
The B.1.427 variant first came from California last summer. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is tracking cases of new variants in the state, but as of March 26 had yet to record a case of the B.1.427 variant, meaning this would be one of the first confirmed cases of the “California variant” of the virus.
“With this new strain being present in our county, it is even more important that we all continue to wear a mask, watch our distance, and wash our hands to stop the spread of COVID-19,” urges Sauk County Public Health Director Treemanisha Stewart said on Facebook Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Sauk County Public Health Department told News 3 Now that they would not issue a mask mandate after the state Supreme Court struck down the statewide mandate. Stewart told News 3 Now they did not hold the power to enforce a mandate, but urged everyone to wear a mask.
As of last week, DHS had counted 78 cases of the B.1.1.7 “UK variant,” 2 cases of the B.1.351 “South African variant” and one case of the P.1 “Brazil variant.”
On Thursday, Pfizer released new data saying its vaccine remains effective against variants of the virus.
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