The Tennessee Department of Health on Thursday confirmed the diagnosis of the first cases of the highly contagious U.K. novel coronavirus variant, one of at least 21 states to report cases of the variant since it was first detected in the U.S. last month.
Health Department spokesman Bill Christian originally said five cases of the B.1.1.7 strain had been identified in the state but, in a later email, he corrected that number and said two were confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of Thursday. A total of seven specimens have been sent to the CDC for confirmation. Christian did not say where the new strain had been detected, and a follow-up email was not immediately returned.
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COVID-19 deaths rise to 48, 44 in AC, RC
Oakridger
The number of active cases of COVID-19 in the Oak Ridge area continues to rise dramatically, while sadly, the number of deaths also increase.
Over the weekend, the Anderson County death toll from the novel coronavirus rose from 45 reported by the Tennessee Department of Health on Thursday, Dec. 17, to 48 reported on Sunday, Dec. 20.
The number of active cases increased from 873 on Thursday to 1,065 on Sunday.
In Roane County, the number of deaths rose from 40 on Thursday to a total of 44 on Sunday. Active cases during that same time period went from 639 Thursday to 724 Sunday.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska The 2021 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race will be about 140 miles shorter than normal as a result of complications stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.
Race officials announced Friday that teams will no longer embark on a 1,000-mile journey to Nome but instead will take a roughly 860-mile loop that starts and ends in Willow.
Every musher must also test negative for the coronavirus before the race begins. They will also be tested again during the race.
Facial coverings and social distancing will be mandated at checkpoints.
The race is scheduled to begin on March 6.
ATLANTA U.S. health officials closely tracking possible side effects of the first authorized COVID-19 vaccine say they have seen six cases of severe allergic reaction out of more than a quarter million shots given.
UK nixes Christmas gatherings, shuts London shops over virus Another US coronavirus record; vaccine shipments reduced As companies around the globe race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine and nations scramble to secure millions of doses, questions about the use of pork-derived ingredients has begun to play a role in the purchasing and planned distribution. California hospitals are battling to find beds to house patients amid fears that the exploding coronavirus infection rate will exhaust resources and health care workers. Israel’s prime minister has been vaccinated against the coronavirus, making him the first Israeli and among the world’s first leaders to be inoculated.