Colorado Officials Alarmed as Possible Case of New COVID Strain Identified

Hope is on the rise here in the United States, as this infernal year known as 2020 comes to an end, and a number of medical breakthroughs look to put the coronavirus crisis behind us.

The last twelve months have been one for the record books.  From the possibility of World War III back in January, to murder hornets, monoliths, and the ever-present COVID-19 pandemic, the world has been suffering greatly of late.

In the case of that deadly outbreak of coronavirus, America is making major moves as a number of highly effective vaccines are delivered to high-risk individuals throughout the nation – with the rest of the willing population to receive the shot later.

But this hopeful spirit could soon be dashed, as Colorado officials warn that a new strain of the deadly virus may have made landfall here in the states.

Colorado officials are investigating a second “highly suspicious” but not yet confirmed case of a coronavirus variant potentially found in another COVID-19-positive patient.

Both the confirmed coronavirus variant case and the potential second case involve members of the Colorado National Guard who were deployed to help Good Samaritan Society nursing home in Simla, where there was a widespread outbreak of COVID-19.

Both individuals arrived at the nursing home on Dec. 23 and tested positive on Dec. 24. The positive tests were processed at the state lab, which had been on alert for the B.1.1.7. variant since it was first discovered in Britain. The lab is now conducting an investigation of the nursing home residents and staff as previous positive test results were processed through an outside lab.

Preliminary results do not indicate that the variant is circulating through the nursing home, officials said during a press conference on Wednesday.

And while the variant is known to be far more contagious than its predecessor, there is not yet enough date to predict whether or not the new strain is any more deadly, or whether or not the currently available vaccines will work against it.