US confirms first case of Brazil COVID-19 variant

Information comes as President Joe Biden reinstates coronavirus journey bans for many non-US residents from a number of nations.

The USA has reported its first recognized case of the COVID-19 variant first detected in Brazil.

The Minnesota Division of Well being confirmed the case on Monday, the identical day President Joe Biden extended coronavirus restrictions barring most non-US residents who not too long ago travelled to Brazil, South Africa and several other European nations from coming into the US.

The variant of the novel coronavirus referred to as P1 was detected in a specimen from a Minnesota resident with latest journey historical past to Brazil, the state’s well being division mentioned in a press release.

The company mentioned it marks the primary documented occasion of the P1 variant within the US.

Whereas the so-called “Brazil variant” is regarded as extra transmissible than the preliminary pressure of the virus that causes COVID-19, it’s not recognized whether or not the sickness it causes is extra extreme.

Biden has promised to launch a fierce combat towards COVID-19 within the US, which has recorded probably the most instances and coronavirus-related deaths on the earth.

“With the pandemic worsening and extra contagious variants spreading, this isn’t the time to be lifting restrictions on worldwide journey,” White Home spokeswoman Jen Psaki mentioned at a information briefing earlier within the day concerning the renewed journey restrictions.

The US has registered greater than 25 million infections – round one-quarter of worldwide instances – in addition to greater than 420,000 deaths because the pandemic started, in line with Johns Hopkins College information.

The brand new head of the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) warned on the weekend that coronavirus-related deaths within the US may surpass 500,000 by subsequent month.

The CDC and US State Division additionally announced that as of Tuesday, all travellers coming into the US might want to present a adverse COVID-19 check earlier than boarding their flights. That features US residents and overseas nationals.

“The Division and the CDC proceed to strongly suggest U.S. residents rethink journey overseas, and postpone all non-essential journey,” they mentioned in a press release on Monday.