BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Two variants of the coronavirus have been detected in growing numbers in Whatcom County.
The state Department of Health reports Whatcom has one of the highest numbers of the UK variant in the state, second only to King County.
A variant first seen in California is also being detected here.
The UK variant is about 50% more transmissible and the California strain appears to be slightly more contagious than the original virus.
The Whatcom County Health Department says the three vaccines available in the U.S. appear to be effective against the variants.
But they urge everyone to continue masking and protective measures as cases are still higher than during last summer’s surge.