January 16, 2021 10:40 a.m.

The Oregon Health Authority has been notified that a resident of the state from Multnomah County, has tested positive with the variant COVID-19 virus strain originally detected in the United Kingdom.

A release said this is the first identification in Oregon of that variant strain, also called B.1.1.7 or SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01. The individual had no known travel history. -Health officials are still investigating the possible sources of infection. OHA said the strain has been detected in several states, including California.

Doctor Dean Sidelinger, health officer and state epidemiologist at OHA said “The detection of the first case of this variant strain is a concern, and we have been monitoring movement of this strain”. He said as they learn more about this case and the individual who tested positive, OHA continues to promote effective public health measures, including wearing masks, maintaining six feet of physical distance, staying home, washing hands, and avoiding gatherings and travel.

OHA said viruses constantly mutate and new variants of a virus are expected to occur over time. Multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been documented in the United States and globally during this pandemic. Most variants do not change how the virus behaves, and many disappear, according to OHA.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said scientists are working to learn more about how easily they might spread. Currently there is no evidence that these variants cause more severe illness or increased risk of death or affect vaccine effectiveness, according to the CDC.