Maryland has detected the U.K. coronavirus variant known as B.1.1.7 in two residents, officials said Tuesday, marking the first such instance in the state.
Officials said both cases involve residents younger than 65 who live in the same household, and that one of the individuals had traveled internationally prior to infection.
Neither of the patients required hospitalization, and additional contract tracing measures are underway, the press release stated. "Our state health officials are closely monitoring the emergence of the B-117 strain of SARS-CoV-2 in the state," Gov.
Larry Hogan said, in the press release. "We encourage Marylanders to practice caution to limit the additional risk of transmission associated with this strain.