Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

February 17, 2021

First Identified Cases of SARS-CoV-2 Variant B.1.1.7 in Minnesota — December 2020–January 2021

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On January 9, 2021, the Minnesota Department of Health announced the identification of the B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 variant (first described in the UK) in specimens from five people, and on January 25, this variant was found in samples from three additional people. The samples were collected between December 18, 2020 and January 11, 2021 from residents in five counties in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area. Three people had a history of international travel during the 14 days before illness onset and three additional people had traveled to California. None had a history of travel to the United Kingdom. 

Firestone et al. (Feb 17, 2021). First Identified Cases of SARS-CoV-2 Variant B.1.1.7 in Minnesota — December 2020–January 2021. MMWR. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7008e1