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U.S. confirms first case of the new COVID-19 strain

COVID-19 DECEMBER 2019
(Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

The first case of the new COVID-19 strain discovered in the UK has been confirmed in Colorado, according to the Colorado State Laboratory.

The case involves a male in his 20s who is currently in isolation in Elbert County and has no travel history, according to a tweet from the office of Gov. Jared Polis.

“The individual has no close contacts identified so far but public health officials are working to identify other potential cases and contacts through thorough contact tracing interviews,” the tweet said.

The new strain SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01 as called by the science community, could be as much as 70% more transmissible.

The CDC said in December that the new strain could already be circulating in the U.S.