photo by: Associated Press

Dr. Lee Norman, head of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, answers questions from reporters about the COVID-19 pandemic during a news conference, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

A more contagious variant of the COVID-19 virus has been identified in Kansas, according to a news release from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

A resident of Ellis County was found to have the United Kingdom variant, also known as B.1.1.7, Wednesday afternoon. This variant was first reported in the United States at the end of December 2020, and as of Tuesday it had been identified in 33 states.

“Evidence from the UK indicates that this variant spreads much more quickly through the population and, given that fact, may rapidly increase the number of hospitalizations and deaths. More studies are needed to confirm this finding,” the KDHE release said.

A case investigation is currently underway to determine how the Ellis County resident contracted the variant and if others were exposed. No further information is being released about the resident. The variant was found through whole genome sequencing conducted at KDHE laboratories, the release stated.

“This finding does not change our public health recommendations,” KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman said in the release. “We continue to encourage people to take the appropriate precautions: follow isolation and quarantine recommendations, practice physical distancing, wearing masks, good hygiene, staying home if ill and getting the vaccine if you are able to, once the supply is sufficient.”