LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Southern Nevada Health District is reporting 5 additional cases of the new B.1.1.7 coronavirus strain, commonly referred to as the UK variant, have been detected in Clark County.
Health officials say these 5 cases are all close contacts of the first case that was announced on Jan. 25.
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These specimens were collected by Southern Nevada Public Health Laboratory (SNPHL) and sent to the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory for sequencing and confirmation.
The five Clark County residents who tested positive include two females and three males.
The two females are both under the age of 18.
One of the males is an adult in his 30s, and the other two are both under the age of 18.
SNHD says all 5 of the patients have recovered, and none had reports of recent travel history.
The B.1.1.7 strain is thought to spread more easily but is not believed to cause more severe illness or increase the risk of death.
SNHD reassures the public that "the vaccines currently being used will still provide protection against the variants of the virus."
