It's not a distinction any city would like to have but it's reality. Of the 62 Americans now diagnosed with Super-COVID (B.1.1.7), 32 are San Diego residents.
This new, highly contagious strain of COVID-19 originated in the United Kingdom, and has now made its way to six U.S. states including: 34 in California (32 in San Diego, and 2 in San Bernardino), 22 in Florida, two in Colorado, and one each in Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
What's alarming public health officials is that many of the individuals who have contracted the Super-COVID strain, have not traveled recently, so the variant is finding its way across the nation, despite travel restrictions.
After the United Kingdom announced the discovery of the variant and enacted a country-wide lockdown, the U.S. established travel restrictions that only allow guests from the U.K. admission to the states if they have an exception and provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test. The airlines are enforcing the restriction by not allow travelers to board unless they can show proof of a recent COVID-19 test. Many countries (including Canada) have banned travelers from the United Kingdom.
Data indicates that the explosive spread of COVID-19 in the U.K. is due to the Super-COVID virus. British Health Secretary Matt Hancock, has said that the Super-COVID variant is “out of control” in London and southeastern England.
Following a meeting of the White House Coronavirus Task Force on Monday, Dr. Anthony Fauci said that based on the information currently available about the variant, he would oppose additional travel restrictions. Fauci told CNN that the U.S. must "Without a doubt keep an eye on it. Follow it carefully, but don't overreact to it."