The new strain of the virus that causes COVID-19 that was first reported in the United Kingdom has been identified in Indiana, according to state health officials.

The Indiana Department of Health made the announcement Monday.

It does not cause more severe infections, but it is much more easily spread, Indiana health officials said in a statement.

Of those, 8,643 are confirmed to have died, health officials said.

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 4,776 new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases Monday, as well as 53 additional deaths.