FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2021
Increasing prevalence of the B.1.351 variant and other variants across the country reiterates the importance of continuing prevention measures
Santa Clara County, CA – A second case of the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.351, also known as the South African variant, has been detected in Santa Clara County. The individual in this case was tested in early March and the specimen was randomly selected for genomic sequencing. This is the fourth confirmed case of the B.1.351 variant in the State of California. An investigation is under way. The case is believed to have resulted from community transmission and is not travel related. One travel-related case of the South African variant was detected in Santa Clara County earlier this year.