Harris County Public Health is conducting contact tracing with an individual who tested positive for the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, a form of the virus discovered in the United Kingdom in December.

This marks the first known case in Harris County and the state of Texas, the county health agency announced Jan. 7. Harris county judge Linda Hidalgo addresses the situation. 

“The individual who tested positive for the B.1.1.7 variant is a man between ages 30-40 who lives in the southwest quadrant of Harris County. The individual is stable and in isolation and will remain there until cleared by public health officials.”

According to Harris County Public Health officials, the individual had no history of travel.

The positive variant case was confirmed by the state’s public health authority, the Texas Department of State Health Services, which is urging Texans to redouble social distancing and mask-wearing efforts.

So far this strand is not the only variant of covid according to the CDC. For now people are encouraged to continue safety measures with social distancing and mask wearing.