Researchers believe the variant, which emerged in the United Kingdom earlier this month, is 56% more contagious than other versions of the virus.
A new, highly contagious coronavirus variant that was first identified in Britain has reached the United States, officials in Colorado confirmed Tuesday, reporting the first known U.S. case of the strain more than two weeks after it was discovered — a worrying development as Covid-19 infections and deaths climb nationwide. Researchers believe this new coronavirus variant — which U.K. officials disclosed earlier this month — is about 56% more contagious than other versions of the virus, an alarming figure even though it doesn’t appear to lead to deadlier infections.
