ANNAPOLIS — Gov. Hogan says the state public health lab confirmed Maryland's first two cases of UK variant of COVID-19.
The two cases announced involved Maryland residents in the Baltimore region who are both younger than 65 years old and live in the same household.
One of the individuals had traveled internationally prior to the infection, and it is thought that this individual transmitted infection to the other individual. Neither patient has required hospitalization.
Extensive contact tracing measures have been employed for both cases of the B-117 strain identified in Maryland, and there is currently no evidence of additional transmission of the strain.
MDH continues aggressive contact tracing for all cases of COVID-19 identified in the state.
Both of the cases involving the B-117 strain were identified in viral samples tested at an independent lab licensed in Maryland.
The results of the analysis were reviewed by the state’s public health lab and discussed with officials from the CDC.
Since the strain was initially identified, the lab has been monitoring for the possible emergence in Maryland by sequencing viral samples collected in the state.
Hogan said the state has been testing for this UK variant at about 5 times the national average.
