JIM: BREAKING NEWS AT 5:00, TWO PEOPLE HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FO THE MUTATED U.K. STRAIN OF THE CORONAVIRUS WITHIN ORANGE COUNTY. MEREDITH: DR. RAUL PINO MAKING THAT ANNOUNCEMENT A SHORT WHILE AGO. DR. PINO TWO CASES WERE : IDENTIFIED THAT THE TEST OCCURRED IN OUR COUNTY, BUT NOT COUNTY RESIDENTS. THAT IS NOT TO SAY THE VARIANT MUST BE OUT THERE, BECAUSE IT’S EVERYWHERE, BUT NOT IN A COUNTY RESIDENT AT THIS POINT. MEREDITH: ORANGE COUNTY HAS NOW SURPASSED MORE THAN 100,000 CASES OF CORONAVIRUS. 937 RESIDENTS HAVE DIED. WESH 2’S AMANDA DUKES
First cases of UK coronavirus variant found in Orange County
Orange County health officials said the county has its first documented cases of the more contagious, mutated coronavirus strain first detected in the U.K.Dr. Raul Pino, the Florida Department of Health director for Orange County, said neither of the two people who tested positive are Orange County residents. He said one of them is a Seminole County resident and the other is a Broward County resident. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida and California both have 92 cases of the variant. That’s more than any other state. The CDC said the figures do not represent the actual number of cases floating around in the country, which they estimate to be much higher than the reported number.The Florida Department of Health announced on New Year’s Eve that a man in his 20s in Martin County was the first in the state to be identified with the strain.Scientists in the UK believe the variant is more contagious than previously identified strains. The vaccines being given now are thought to be effective against the variant.
Orange County health officials said the county has its first documented cases of the more contagious, mutated coronavirus strain first detected in the U.K.
Dr. Raul Pino, the Florida Department of Health director for Orange County, said neither of the two people who tested positive are Orange County residents. He said one of them is a Seminole County resident and the other is a Broward County resident.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida and California both have 92 cases of the variant. That’s more than any other state.
The CDC said the figures do not represent the actual number of cases floating around in the country, which they estimate to be much higher than the reported number.
The Florida Department of Health announced on New Year’s Eve that a man in his 20s in Martin County was the first in the state to be identified with the strain.
Scientists in the UK believe the variant is more contagious than previously identified strains. The vaccines being given now are thought to be effective against the variant.