First Case Of California Variant Confirmed On Navajo Nation
Apr 6, 2021, 3:57 PM | Updated: 5:39 pm
(KSL TV)
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The first case of the California variant of COVID-19 has been found on the Navajo Nation, according to officials.
A news release Tuesday said the variant was discovered on a test sample that was collected in the Chinle Service Unit area.
The Centers for Disease Control has classified the California variant (B.1.429) as a Variant of Concern and described it as, “a variant for which there is evidence of an increase in transmissibility, more severe disease (increased hospitalizations or deaths), significant reduction in neutralization by antibodies generated during previous infection or vaccination, reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines, or diagnostic detection failures.”
This was the second COVID-19 variant identified on the reservation. On March 30, the U.K. variant was found in a sample in the western portion of the Navajo Nation, the release said.
#NavajoNation confirms first case of the B.1.429 variant first identified in the state of California, health officials urge more residents to get vaccinated pic.twitter.com/uyGSQL8HBm
— Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez (@NNPrezNez) April 6, 2021
“Everyone should be informed about the two variants that have been identified here on the Navajo Nation. There is still much to be learned about the B.1.429 variant, commonly known as the California variant,” Navajo President Nez said. “At this point, the California variant has been detected in all of the states that surround the Navajo Nation. The Navajo” Department of Health continues to work with states and other partners to conduct surveillance to help identify if there are more variant cases.”
According to the Navajo Department of Health, the person who tested positive for the B.1.429 variant has recovered.
The Navajo Nation is in the Four Corners area, which includes Utah’s San Juan County.
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