Minnesota has identified the nation's first-known COVID-19 infection that involves a more contagious Brazilian coronavirus strain.
Genomic sequencing of lab samples from COVID-19 patients identified the Brazil P.1 variant in a Minnesota resident who recently traveled to Brazil, the Minnesota Department of Health reported on Monday.
State Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said the discovery underscores the need for continued mask-wearing and social-distancing practices to limit transmission of COVID-19, which is spread by a coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2.
Infections, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 have been declining in Minnesota over the past month, but Malcolm said new strains could contribute to a new wave.
"We know that even as we work hard to defeat COVID-19, the virus continues to evolve as all viruses do," she said. "That's yet another reason why we want to limit COVID-19 transmission — the fewer people who get COVID-19, the fewer opportunities the virus has to evolve."
Gov. Tim Walz mentioned the threat of new viruses on Monday amid a new challenge to hasten the administration of COVID-19 vaccine in the state. Limited doses are currently prioritized for health care workers and long-term care facility residents, but Minnesota recently provided some expanded access to senior citizens and teachers.
Minnesota has launched a variant surveillance program by which its public health lab and others examine 50 random samples from COVID-19 patients each week. The state has conducted similar sequencing throughout the pandemic to chart the spread of the virus — including an outbreak in Minnesota that started when someone brought the virus back from the Sturgis motorcycle rally.
The patient who had traveled to Brazil became sick in the first week of January and had a sample taken on Jan. 9. The person isolated from others after the infection was confirmed. Health officials are now re-interviewing the patient to learn more about recent travel and contacts.
