New York officials have found the first case of the COVID-19 strain initially detected in the United Kingdom, a variant that is considered more fast moving and contagious.

The case was found in a Saratoga Springs man in his 60s who is affiliated with N. Fox Jewelers on Broadway in the city.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the positive test on Monday in a conference call with reporters. A contact tracing effort is underway. State health officials are asking that people who visited the store from December 18 through December 24 to be tested.

"We're going through the employees of the jewelry store. As it was a retail establishment, we want the cooperation of the public," Cuomo said.

Other cases of the COVID-19 variant have been found in at least three other states: Colorado, California and Florida.

The newly discovered variant of the COVID-19 virus has emerged with a large number of mutations and seems to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, the CDC said on its website. 

"This variant was first detected in September 2020 and is now highly prevalent in London and southeast England," information on the CDC's website said. "It has since been detected in numerous countries around the world, including the United States and Canada."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.