(WBNG) -- Broome County Health Officials say there are no known cases of COVID-19 mutant strains in the county.
Recently, it was announced another new variant of the virus was found in Brazil, following the findings of the more contagious strains in the U.K. and South Africa.
Although they are concerned about the new variants, local health officials say they are not the number one priority. Right now, they are focusing on vaccinating people.
Broome County Health Department Director Rebecca Kaufman says she believes the vaccines cover most of the variants.
She says as the variants are discovered, testing will will be done to determine if the vaccine is effective against them.
Kaufman explains because the U.K. variant of the virus was found in Tompkins County, it's likely only a matter of time until it's in the local area.
Health officials are also taking a look into the virus rate of transmission, or how quickly the virus spreads.
When the rate of the virus spread in below one percent, that means the virus is slowing down.
Officials say slowing the virus down is crucial to controlling the spread.
Kaufman says as more people get vaccines, the transmission will rate will go down.
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January 27, 2021 at 05:25AM
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Health Department to focus on vaccinations as virus variants appear - WBNG-TV
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