Additional coronavirus variants have been identified in Oklahoma since health officials started to ramp up sequencing work at a new public health lab.
The presence of P.1 and B.1.1.7 variants was previously known. There are now also the B.1.427 and B.1.429 strains from California, and B.1.351, currently the dominant strain in South Africa.
"And that case was actually a vaccine breakthrough infection. So, we are doing further investigation on the particular patient, the vaccine and where this person might have acquired that infection," said Deputy State Epidemiologist Joli Stone.
Coronavirus variants spread more easily. Some may also cause more severe illness, be more deadly and be better at thwarting antibodies. OU Chief COVID Officer Dr. Dale Bratzler said there is, however, good news.
"Despite variants being present, our case counts are still staying low and have come down a lot," Bratzler said.
The state’s seven-day average of new cases on Thursday was 325, down 92% from its mid-January peak. Hospitalizations are down 89% from their early January record.
Dr. Jean Hausheer with the Healthier Oklahoma Coalition said keeping up or increasing the vaccination rate is key to keeping those trends on the decline.
"We are in a race against those variants. By providing immunity to the population, this virus, no matter its mutations, will slow down, it will stop infecting and killing our population," Hausheer said.
Health officials warn now is not the time to stop measures like wearing masks in public and avoiding large gatherings, even if you are fully vaccinated.