Health officials: Brazilian variant of COVID-19 detected in Arizona
The Brazilian variant of the COVID-19 virus has been detected in Arizona, state health officials announced Friday.
and last updated 2021-03-12 23:31:45-05
PHOENIX â The Brazilian variant of the COVID-19 virus has been detected in Arizona, state health officials announced Friday, adding that studies have shown that current vaccines are effective against it.
The variant was detected in three test samples from the state, the Arizona Department of Health Services, Yuma County Public Health Services District and Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) said in a news release late Friday.
Officials did not provide any more specific information on where in the state the variants were detected or how they may have arrived in the state.
March 12, 2021
Gov. Doug Ducey announced he would lift capacity restrictions on restaurants and schools and return to mostly normal operations. Several Arizona doctors criticized the plan, saying the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is not under control. (Photo by Sofia Fuentes/Cronkite News)
Four Arizona doctors on Friday assailed Gov. Doug Ducey’s plan to return to mostly normal operations as vaccinations against COVID-19 ramp up, warning that the coronavirus that causes the disease remains out of control.
Ducey last week said he will begin allowing restaurants and other businesses to run at full capacity, and he has issued an executive order that requires schools to offer in-person instruction for students who want it, starting Monday. Ducey has declined throughout the yearlong pandemic to set a statewide mask mandate.
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