DURHAM, N.C. — Health officials in Durham County say a case of the B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19 has been confirmed.

Officials say contact tracing for the case has been completed and the patient is currently in isolation. No additional information regarding the individual is being released due to HIPAA regulations.

"There have been variant cases found in several other counties across the state, as well as in at least 45 states across the nation, so we did expect that eventually we would see variant cases here as well," said Durham County Health Director Rod Jenkins. 

The first known case of the B.1.1.7 variant was confirmed in North Carolina on January 23, 2021, officials say. The variant has been found to be more contagious than others, so everyone is encourage to continue following all COVID-19 safety measures and get vaccinated when their turn arrives.

"It remains extremely important to follow the 3 W's -- wear your properly fitting mask, wait 6 feet apart from each other, and wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds each time," said Jenkins. "It is also critical to be vaccinated when it is your turn. We know that these are the best available methods to protect against COVID-19 and its variants." 

Officials say the current vaccines are expected to also provide protection against the B.1.1.7 variant.