First known cases of California variant found in Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska health officials said Saturday they have found the first known cases in the state of a California variant of COVID-19.

The Department of Health and Human Services said in a news release that the variant has been identified by the Nebraska Public Health Lab in 13 cases in four different jurisdictions of the state.

Nine cases were identified in Douglas County, two in the Public Health Solutions district (which includes Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Saline and Thayer counties), one in the East Central district (Boone, Colfax, Nance and Platte counties), and one in Lancaster County.

This particular variant strain was first identified in California and more recently has spread to multiple states, health officials said. Less is known about the California variant than other variants, but it is likely more easily transmitted.