Since COVID-19 first started spreading across the globe last year, new strains have recently popped up in different parts of the world.

Greene County Public Health Director Becky Wolf says there are two variant strains of COVID-19 that have been discovered. One strain is called B117, which originated in the United Kingdom and then later found in Colorado and California. The second strain is L452R, which was first detected in Denmark last March and by May it was found in California. She talks about whether or not the two strains have been found in Iowa.

“As far as we know it has not been detected in Iowa, that does not mean it is not here. But the State Hygienic Lab is doing sample testing and surveillance on that. They are sending those down to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for) further testing and typing.”

Wolf notes while studies are continuously being done to know if the developed vaccines can defend against these strains, she still urges everyone to get the vaccine to fight against the current COVID-19 virus.