UK variant detected in New York
A new variant of the novel coronavirus that was first identified in the United Kingdom has been detected in New York state, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday.
The patient is a man in Saratoga Country in his 60s, who had not traveled recently, suggesting community spread of variant. The patient was affiliated with a jewelry store, N. Fox Jewelers, where three other people have also tested positive for COVID-19, although it is not yet known if they have the same virus variant. Anyone who visited the store between Dec. 18 and 24 is being asked to contact the state and get a test immediately.
"From a public health point of view, it’s about contact tracing," Cuomo said. “We have to make sure we are doing everything we can do to effective contact tracing of this case."
Cases of the new variant have also been detected in Colorado, California and Florida.
-ABC News' Aaron Katersky contributed to this report.