Forsyth County health officials are reporting their first case of a more easily transmissible variant of COVID-19.
Public health officials say it's not surprising that a case was found in Forsyth. The variant strain was first found in North Carolina back in January, just days before the first Triad case was identified in Guilford County. So far, it's been found in at least 45 states.
The Forsyth patient is in isolation and contact tracing is being done to determine if others may have been exposed.
The variant known as B.1.1.7 is considered to be more contagious than other strains, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control says there's no evidence it is more severe or deadly.
Forsyth health officials encourage all residents — even those who have been vaccinated — to follow the three Ws to fight the spread of the disease. They are: wearing a mask, washing hands, and waiting six feet apart.