LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7.
It is the same variant that was discovered in the United Kingdom. Public health officials say the individual is a man who recently spent time in Los Angeles County.
He traveled to Oregon where he is currently isolating. The variant was confirmed by Quest Laboratories in Washington State, according to a statement from Public Health.
Health officials say although this is the first confirmed case of the U.K. variant in LA County, they believe it is already spreading in the community."Viruses constantly change through mutation, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur over time.