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Local reaction, as new COVID-19 variant found in Maryland


Local reaction, as new COVID-19 variant found in Maryland
Local reaction, as new COVID-19 variant found in Maryland
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ANNAPOLIS, MD (WBFF) - Maryland has its first cases of that fast-spreading COVID-19 variant that was first discovered in the United Kingdom.

The positive cases are from a couple who lives in Anne Arundel County.

Joseline Castanos knows how deadly the coronavirus can be. She spoke about it while running through her Hanover neighborhood Tuesday night, one day after her aunt Antonia died from the disease. She was 83 years old.

“Just seeing her deteriorate for so long, for over a month, suffered so much. We shouldn’t have to go through that,“ said Castanos.

Castanos’ aunt lived in the Dominican Republic. Now, there’s word the COVID-19 landscape in Maryland has changed with two people in Anne Arundel County confirmed to have the new UK variant of COVID-19.

In a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Larry Hogan said the couple, along with their two children, is in isolation.

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“A private lab not involved with the state did the tests. The normal COVID test found something strange and confirmed it was the UK variant,“ said Hogan.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also confirmed the tests.

Tara Sell is a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. She outlines what’s so different about this new COVID-19 strain.

“The new COVID variant is more transmissible. It’s not been found to be more deadly or cause more of an illness or anything like that. But it is transmitted from person to person more easily,“ said Sell.

The experts say that’s what makes it so dangerous, having a new strain that’s even harder to control than the current variant.

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“We need to do better, we need to wear a mask, we need to keep social distance. We need to do what we can, what’s under our control,“ said Castanos, reminding people what they can do to help control the spread of the disease.

Hogan’s office said both people are under 65 and are not in the hospital.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sell says the COVID-19 vaccine is expected to work for this new UK variant.


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