2 Montgomery County Residents Test Positive For South African COVID-19 Variant
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD. (WJZ) — Two new cases of the dangerous South African COVID—19 variant have been confirmed in Maryland.
Those diagnosed are both residents of Montgomery County who have recently traveled.
2 more possible cases of the more contagious South African #COVID19 variant detected in Maryland. Montgomery County health officer says the results for 2 residents are preliminary and connected to travel. Past case detected in Baltimore area was not connected to travel. @wjz pic.twitter.com/P0NFIK7XDh
— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) February 2, 2021
"We are awaiting further information, but at this time it is suggested these cases were linked to travel and not community transmission," said Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles.
Governor Larry Hogan tweeted "contact tracing is underway, and close contacts are isolating."
State health officials and the CDC have confirmed two additional cases of the B.1.351 (South African) variant in Maryland. The two individuals, who recently traveled abroad, reside in Montgomery County. Contact tracing is underway, and close contacts are isolating.
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) February 2, 2021
Last week, one case of the South African variant was found in the Baltimore area. That person had not traveled.
"It's even more important that we are exercising all of the things that have kept us safe so far," Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren.
The strain is more contagious though not necessarily more deadly. Vaccines may not protect as well against it.
This comes as some Maryland lawmakers are frustrated at the slow vaccine rollout. They grilled Maryland's Acting Health Secretary Dennis Schrader about the allocation of vaccines.
Local health departments say they are getting a fraction of the doses they were receiving last week. Some said the vaccine is being redirected to pharmacies and mass vaccination sites and local officials are worried they will not be able to honor appointments for second doses.
"All of the county health departments that have this capacity are frustrated to hear that the doses are being diverted elsewhere," said Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman.
Pittman said his health department received 3,400 doses this week compared to 5,000 last week.
Howard County received 66 percent of the doses the state allocated the week before.
"If you do the math in our county, it doesn't add up," Pittman said.
Anne Arundel County plans to make more doses available for teachers next week.
Anne Arundel County Exec says he'll get the vaccine after teachers get it; says the lack of doses provided to local health departments is frustrating @wjz pic.twitter.com/5wCZxB2yNr
— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) February 2, 2021
The county executive said he would not personally get the vaccine until educators get it first.
In Baltimore City, people had to be turned away from their first-dose appointments at the BCCC vaccination site because they were made using a link that was only for people making second-dose appointments.
People in Baltimore City were turned away from getting first-dose #COVID19 vaccinations because those appointments were made using a link meant only for those getting their second doses. The health commissioner says only second dose appointments are being honored now ⬇️ @wjz pic.twitter.com/eFNMZwrGDI
— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) February 3, 2021
"If you have a first-dose appointment in the month of February at the Baltimore City Community College site, it is not a valid appointment, unfortunately. Again, this month, we are only doing second-dose vaccinations," said Dr. Dzirasa.
For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.