(WKOW) The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and its laboratory partners found a second variant strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in Wisconsin Thursday.
The strain found is different than the first variant, B.1.1.7, also referred to as the UK variant, that was found in Wisconsin Jan. 12.
This strain is known as B.1.351, and was first discovered in South Africa around October.
DHS reported that epidemiologic and modeling studies said this new strain is similar to the UK variant in terms of speed, but they don t know the severity of it.
Research suggests the Moderna vaccine may be less effective against this variant, but studies are ongoing, according to DHS.
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Prosecutors, public defenders, judges now eligible for vaccine
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In Wisconsin, people age 16 and up with certain pre-existing conditions will be eligible for the coronavirus vaccine starting Monday, March 22.
People age 16 and up with certain pre-existing conditions in Wisconsin will be eligible for the coronavirus vaccine starting Monday, a week earlier than previously announced, Gov. Tony Evers said Tuesday.
Last week, the state said people in that eligibility group who are at a higher health risk would be able to get vaccinated starting March 29.
“Our vaccinators across the state are doing great work to get folks vaccinated, Evers said in a statement. “Moving up eligibility for this critical group will help us get over the finish line and sooner, and get us back to our Wisconsin way of life.”