South Dakota Hasn’t Seen New COVID Variant

While South Dakota has seen one of the biggest recent spikes in COVID-19 cases, thanks in part to the emergence of the Delta Variant of the virus, the state is one of only three places in the country that has not seen a recorded instance of the latest coronavirus variant.

Business Insider is reporting that South Dakota, Nebraska, and Vermont are the only three states that have yet to report any cases of the new COVID-19 variant called Mu.

The World Health Organization says the Mu variant (B.1.621), which was first detected in Colombia in January of this year, could potentially be immune from the vaccinations that are currently available.

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Currently, the Mu strain is hitting hard in Alaska, making up four of that state's COVID cases.

California has the highest number of Mu cases (232).

Nationwide, the Mu variant accounts for fewer than one percent of the total coronavirus cases.

In South Dakota, overall COVID cases were up 685% as of September 1, according to a tracker run by The New York Times.

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KEEP READING: Here are the most popular baby names in every state

Using March 2019 data from the Social Security Administration, Stacker compiled a list of the most popular names in each of the 50 states and Washington D.C., according to their 2018 SSA rankings. The top five boy names and top five girl names are listed for each state, as well as the number of babies born in 2018 with that name. Historically common names like Michael only made the top five in three states, while the less common name Harper ranks in the top five for 22 states.

Curious what names are trending in your home state? Keep reading to see if your name made the top five -- or to find inspiration for naming your baby.