SATURDAY UPDATES: Missouri reports first case of COVID-19 variant

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

UPDATE: The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported the first identification in Missouri of the COVID-19 variant, B.1.1.7 on Saturday.

The variant was first detected in the United Kingdom in September 2020. It is believed to be more easily transmittable.

The variant was identified in a sample from an adult living in Marion County.

The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows 611 cases have been reported in the United States as of Feb. 4.

“We were notified today of this first B.1.1.7 variant case in Missouri, and we are working closely with the local public health agency to ensure appropriate measures are being taken regarding contact tracing and isolation and quarantine protocols,” said Dr. Randall Williams, director of DHSS.

ORIGINAL: The Department of Health and Senior Services reported 1,004 new COVID-19 cases Saturday. There have been 465,448 cases reported in Missouri.

The state ranked 25th in the nation on Saturday for new cases reported in the past seven days.

DHSS reported 12 new virus-related deaths on Saturday.

As of Saturday, 4,237,855 people have been tested for Coronavirus.

There were 1,666 people hospitalized with the virus on Saturday.