Washington state sees first Brazil coronavirus variant case: health officials

Health officials in Washington have confirmed the state’s first case of a worrisome coronavirus variant that was first identified in Brazil. 

The P.1 variant is concerning as it contains a number of mutations, "including ones that seem to make it less vulnerable to our bodies’ immune response," officials said. COVID-19 vaccines are also thought to be less effective against some variants, including the Brazilian one.  "If we let down our guard, these variant strains will make us pay," said Jeff Duchin, Health Officer, Public Health – Seattle & King County, in a statement. "The upside is that we can take steps to limit the damage. The same precautions that have helped us drive down case counts in the past can also protect us from the variants, as long as we are diligent."