BOSTON — The state’s Department of Public Health announced Sunday that there are 19 more cases of the B.1.1.7 COVID-19 variant in Massachusetts, bringing the total number of cases in the commonwealth to 29. That variant of the novel coronavirus began in the United Kingdom before spreading to the U.S. in December 2020 and Massachusetts on Jan. 17, 2021.
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“Cases have ranged in age from 4 years to-almost 70; they include 13 females and 16 males,” Mass. DPH said in their announcement. “There have been 17 cases in Worcester County, one in Hampden County, two in Middlesex County, six in Norfolk County, two in Plymouth County and one in Suffolk County.”
There are two other COVID-19 variants, one that originated in South Africa and another that began in Brazil; however, neither has been confirmed in Massachusetts thus far.
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DPH provided the following breakdown of new and total cases of the COVID-19 variant in the state, including the location and age group of the patients:
New cases
- Middlesex County male less than 19-years-old
- Middlesex County male in his 20s
- Norfolk County male in his 50s
- Norfolk County male in his 20s
- Norfolk County female in her 50s
- Worcester County female in her 40s
- Worcester County male in his mid-teens
- Worcester County female less than 19-years-old
- Worcester County male in his 40s
- Worcester County female in her 30s
- Worcester County female in her 30s
- Worcester County female in her 30s
- Worcester County male in his 40s
- Worcester County male less than 19-years-old
- Worcester County male in his 60s
- Worcester County male in his 30s
- Worcester County female in her 50s
- Worcester County male in his 50s
- Worcester County female in her 20s
Previous cases (since Jan. 17, 2021)
- Hampden County male in his 20s
- Norfolk County male in his 40s
- Norfolk County female in her 30s
- Norfolk County female in his 20s
- Plymouth County male in his 60s
- Plymouth County female in her 50s
- Suffolk County female in her 20s
- Worcester County male in his 20s
- Worcester County female in her 50s
- Worcester County male less than 19-years-old
“The best defense against a rapid rise in cases from variants of concern is to prevent the spread of COVID,” Mass. DPH said in their release.
“New information from CDC shows that improving the fit and filtration of masks helps reduce the spread of the virus. Mask fit can be improved by using a mask with a nose wire and by using a mask fitter or by knotting the ear loops and tucking the sides. Mask filtration is improved by using multiple layers.”
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