Additional variants of COVID-19 cases found in Mississippi

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Additional cases of two variant strains of COVID-19 have been found in Mississippi, the state Health Department said Thursday.

Officials said 10 additional cases of the variant that originated in South Africa have been identified in the state, bringing the total to 12. The new cases are from outbreaks in two long-term care facilities — one in Forrest County and one in Covington County.

The cases were described as “breakthrough” illnesses in “fully vaccinated older individuals.”

“The majority of these cases had minimal to no symptoms, however, two required hospitalizations and one person died,” the department said in a news release.