covid variant January 19, 2021 12:16 pm New COVID Strain Confirmed in Mass. While Massachusetts health officials say only one case of the new COVID variant has been detected in the state so far, it has likely been circulating for weeks. US & World Videos 2:39 MIT president calls for shutdown of student encampments 0:16 4 people seriously hurt after boat sinks off Cape Cod 2:35 Fallen Billerica police sergeant honored during vigil 2:09 President of MIT calls for shutting down pro-Palestinian encampments 1:00 Three dead in apparent murder-suicide in Lowell