First Oregonian with more contagious coronavirus strain works for University of Portland - OregonLive

An employee at the University of Portland is the first person in Oregon identified with a new contagious variant of the coronavirus.

A University of Portland employee is the first Oregonian identified with the new, more contagious strain of coronavirus that engulfed the United Kingdom, university officials announced Saturday.

Fewer than 100 infections from the strain have been identified in the United States yet federal officials worry it could be the dominant form of the virus by March.

Lewellen said the university learned about it Friday from public health officials in Multnomah County.

The University of Portland employee had no known travel history before testing positive, suggesting the variant is already circulating in the metro area.

Lewellen said the university learned the employee tested positive Monday and confirmed the person had contact with 12 people – no students – prior to that.

The other nine have not been tested but Lewellen said the university will help secure screenings for them, if necessary.