Scientists Discover First New York Case of Brazilian COVID Variant in Brooklyn Resident Yesterday

By Yehudit Garmaise

    Scientists at Mount Sinai hospital in Manhattan discovered the state’s first case of the Brazilian COVID-19 variant, which is called “P.1” yesterday, said Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who added that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently reporting 48 cases of the P.1 “variant of concern” in the U.S.

   The patient, whose gender is not specified, is in her or his 90s and has no travel history, according to the state.

   At the end of January in the U.S., scientists first detected the P.1 variant, which reveals increased transmissibility, causes more severe disease, and less effectiveness to treatments or vaccines.

   “This is a race between the vaccine and the variants, and we continue to make tremendous progress of getting shots in the arms of eligible New Yorkers,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker. 

   Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Friday, “I think we're winning that race against the variants because so many people are getting vaccinated.”

    The governor pointed out today that although the state has provided more than 7.5 million COVID vaccine doses across New York, the state is still making do with a limited supply of the vaccine from the federal government.

   “New Yorkers are encouraged to remain patient and are advised not to show up at vaccination sites without an appointment,” Gov. Cuomo said, who said that New Yorkers with comorbidities and underlying conditions are now eligible, and new appointments for those who provide signed doctors’ letters will be available this week.

   After opening fitness centers, expanding the capacities of sports arenas, and lifting the COVID-related 11 pm curfew for casinos, movie theaters, bowling alleys, billiard halls, and gyms, Gov. Cuomo’s lenient actions toward reopening contradict his words of caution about the P.1 and other COVID variants.

   “Any increase in in-person activity can have consequences if we don't do in right,” Gov. Cuomo said today. 

   Mayor de Blasio, however, on Friday responded to the governor’s many actions toward reopening, “Our health care leadership is abundantly clear: ‘Don't do that,’” the mayor said on the Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC.

    “The Governor took back the power for us to decide and did it. And I think for very political reasons, just to – anything he could do to get anyone to like him.”

(Kevin P. Coughlin / State of New York)