A new strain of coronavirus has showed up in Indiana. Known as the “California variant” of coronavirus, it was first detected in California in the fall of last year and has been slowly spreading, according to health experts.

Now it has turned up in St. Joseph County.

The CDC says more research is still to be done on the variant, but they are confident that any of the available vaccines are strong enough to fight it off if you end up getting it.

Health leaders in St. Joseph County are urging you to keep wearing masks and taking other precautions to slow it’s spread.

The following information was sent to 95.3 MNC from the St. Joseph County Department of Public Health:

A case of COVID-19 caused by the B.1427 (California) variant has been identified in St.
Joseph County. Under guidance from the Indiana Department of Health, there is ongoing surveillance testing of positive COVID-19 samples in Indiana. This surveillance effort is intended to provide insight into the proportion of cases caused by a variant strain. There is no difference in the clinical treatment or mitigation strategies recommended.

Vaccine uptake remains crucial in limiting the impact of COVID-19 variants. For current eligibility, please visit www.ourshot.in.gov. On March 31, eligibility is expected to open to all individuals aged 16 and older.

With this identification, the St. Joseph County Department of Health urges the continuation of the following actions, even after vaccination:

• Wear a facial covering (should fit snuggly over the mouth and nose) anytime you are around people not in your household.
• Practice extreme physical distancing.
• Maintain at least 6ft between individuals.
• Wearing a mask does NOT eliminate the need for physical distancing.
• Practice frequent and proper hand hygiene & cough etiquette.
• Wash hands often, for at least 20 seconds, with soap & water; coughing and sneezing into your sleeve.
• Stay home if ill.
• Limit indoor social gatherings to fewer than ten people.
• Get the COVID-19 vaccine when you are eligible.

For all COVID-19 testing sites in St. Joseph County, you can view an interactive map at
https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/2524.htm. Please be aware each site may have different criteria for testing and may not be up to date.

For more information on COVID-19, visit the Indiana State Department of Health at www.in.gov/isdh and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov. For general questions as it relates to COVID-19 infection, please call 2-1-1.