More Contagious Strain of COVID-19 Has Been Found in Louisiana

You know it was just a matter of time before the COVID-19 crisis took a turn for the worse.  With new infection rates skyrocketing in our state, the last thing we needed was the news we got today.  A mutated, and more infectious form of the virus that causes COVID-19 has been detected in Louisiana.

The new variant (called the U.K. variant because of it’s prevalence in the United Kingdom) was found in a patient from the greater New Orleans area over the weekend.  According to health officials, this new strain hasn't been shown to cause greater illness - but it is much more contagious.  If this new form of the virus becomes predominant in our state, medical professionals fear it could lead to yet another - possibly bigger wave of new infections in the spring.

According to FOX 8, the good news is this: Once you get the highly-coveted vaccine / and or develop COVID-19 antibodies - you're covered for both strains of the virus.  Until then (and even for a time afterward) health officials strongly recommend following mitigation protocols like wearing a mask, washing your hands often, and avoiding crowds.