![More Contagious Strain of COVID-19 Has Been Found in Louisiana](http://townsquare.media/site/182/files/2021/01/GettyImages-1889223.jpg?w=980&q=75)
More Contagious Strain of COVID-19 Has Been Found in Louisiana
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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.
Here are some tips for self-care during the pandemic:
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