THE STATE'S TOP PUBLIC HEALTH DOCTOR SAYS THEY ARE KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE ON THE COVID VARIANTS CIRCULATING IN ILLINOIS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 

704 CASES OF VARIANTS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED IN ILLINOIS SO FAR...THE VAST MAJORITY ARE THE B-ONE-ONE-SEVEN STRAIN, FIRST SEEN IN THE U-K. THIS ISN'T UNUSUAL SAYS STATE PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR DOCTOR NGOZI (en-gahzi) EZIKE (eh-zee-kay).

IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR VIRUSES TO MUTATE SEVERAL TIMES SAYS DOCTOR  EZIKE (eh-zee-kay).

EZIKE SAYS EXPERTS WILL CONTINUALY BE STUDYING THE PROPERTIES OF ANY NEW VARIANTS TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE MORE CONTAGIOUS AND COVERED BY THE VACCINE.