Oklahoma Confirms First Known Case Of Brazilian Virus Variant

A new Brazilian variant of the coronavirus has been confirmed in Oklahoma in a woman with a history of out-of-state travel, state health officials said Friday.

State epidemiologist Jared Taylor says the Brazil P.1 variant was detected in a woman who is no longer infectious and that at least one member of the woman’s household also tested positive for the coronavirus. The Brazilian variant was first detected in the U.S. last month contains a set of mutations that may affect its ability to be recognized by antibodies, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Taylor says it “highly probable” that one or more variants are circulating in Oklahoma.

“We ought to operate on the assumption that they are present and circulating,” Taylor said.

The state is pushing ahead with its vaccination plan to administer doses to residents age 65 and older and has not yet determined when the next phases, including adults with existing health conditions, teachers and those in congregate housing, will begin, said Deputy Health Commissioner Keith Reed.

“I think we’re getting to a point where we’re going to have to make some decisions about when it’s time to move to the next group,” Reed said. “We’re not there yet.”

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases and those hospitalized with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, continues to decline, Taylor said.

Oklahoma reported 2,662 new confirmed cases and 29 deaths on Friday, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to just under 400,000 and the state’s death toll to 3,710.