SEATTLE (AP) — A COVID-19 variant identified in Brazil has been detected in Washington state.
Health officials announced Thursday that the UW Medicine Virology Lab detected the presence of the P.1 variant in a COVID-19 King County test sample.
All three COVID-19 variants, including those first identified in the UK and in South Africa, now have been detected in Washington state.
Researchers believe those variants of COVID-19 may spread more easily. Officials urge people to continue measures such as physical distancing and mask wearing to limit COVID-19 spread.