The first person in the U.S. known to be infected with a new and apparently more contagious variant of the coronavirus was identified Wednesday as a Colorado National Guardsman who had been sent to help out at a nursing home struggling with an outbreak. And health officials said a second Guard member may have it, too.

The first reported US case of the COVID-19 variant that's been seen in the United Kingdom has been discovered in Colorado, Governor Jared Polis announced Tuesday, adding urgency to efforts to vaccinate Americans.