County reports nearly 2,500 new COVID-19 cases, 37 new deaths as detection of UK variant is announced

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - San Diego County public health officials reported 37 COVID-19-related deaths and 2,448 infections today, including one individual infected with a new, more contagious variant of the virus first discovered in the United Kingdom.

The variant, known as B.1.1.7, was first found in the United States Tuesday in Colorado. The San Diego case is in a man in his 30s with no history of travel who first became symptomatic Dec. 27 and tested positive Dec. 29. He has not been hospitalized and contact tracing is underway.

"Because there is no travel history, we believe this is not an isolat...