'Remain diligent': Connecticut doctor warns South African variant of COVID-19 appears to be more contagious
After Gov. Ned Lamont announced that a person from Fairfield County tested positive for the South African variant of COVID-19, a local doctor says it's important as ever to remain compliant with safety precautions.
•
Feb 16, 2021, 11:21 PM
•
Updated 1,527 days ago
Share:
More Stories
Hometown Heroes in Connecticut
372ds ago
Nobel in medicine goes to 2 scientists whose work enabled creation of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19
569ds ago0:29
Connecticut health commissioner fired during COVID settles with state; dismissal now a resignation
575ds ago0:21
Biden administration announces $600M to produce COVID tests and will reopen website to order them
581ds ago2:00
Should you get a COVID booster? Hartford Healthcare doctor says wait
602ds ago0:22
Nearly 200 Stamford small businesses to receive COVID-19 relief grants
621ds agoHometown Heroes in Connecticut
372ds agoNobel in medicine goes to 2 scientists whose work enabled creation of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19
569ds ago0:29
Connecticut health commissioner fired during COVID settles with state; dismissal now a resignation
575ds ago0:21
Biden administration announces $600M to produce COVID tests and will reopen website to order them
581ds ago2:00
Should you get a COVID booster? Hartford Healthcare doctor says wait
602ds ago0:22
Nearly 200 Stamford small businesses to receive COVID-19 relief grants
621ds agoAfter Gov. Ned Lamont announced that a person from Fairfield County tested positive for the South African variant of COVID-19, a local doctor says it's important as ever to remain compliant with safety precautions.
LIVE UPDATES: COVID-19 Blog
Dr. Dan Gottschall is vice president of medical affairs at Hartford HealthCare's St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport. He says research has found that the new South African variant is more contagious.
"It seems to be a little more capable of getting into our cells," Dr. Gottschall says. "So if the virus is more capable of getting into our cells, then it's more likely for us to catch it and to get sick."
The doctor says while the variant hasn’t been found to make people sicker, it still needs to be taken seriously.
"People need to remain diligent about this virus," he says. "They need to continue to wash their hands, wear their masks, social distance."
Dr. Gottschall says if a patient is COVID-19 positive, whether they have the variant or not, the treatment is still the same. He also says more information about the variants is still coming out.
Gov. Lamont also announced today that the Fairfield County patient with this variant is improving.
More from News 12
0:28
Fairfield short-circuits United Illuminating's monopole project
2:43
Explore nature with 100 life-sized prehistoric creatures at Nature's Art Village & the Dinosaur Place
0:22
Connecticut lawmakers push $2.5B plan to cut electric bills
1:09
East End: Bonac Bees
1:09
CT Democrats advance child tax credit, but wealthy could pay more
2:04
