COVID-19 Variant First Found In Brazil Now Found In Washington State

SEATTLE (AP) – Health officials say a COVID-19 variant identified in Brazil has been detected in Washington state.

Public Health – Seattle & King County 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.