Three additional cases of the COVID-19 variant first found in the United Kingdom have been confirmed in New York state, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Saturday said. 

Two of the new cases are related to an initial case first discovered in Saratoga Springs. A third case is unconnected to the Saratoga County cases, found in Nassau County, Cuomo said. 

The COVID-19 variant is considered more contagious, and Cuomo believes there are more cases of the variant elsewhere in the state. The variant is not believed to be more severe than other versions of the virus.

Altogether, New York has administered 543,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as a distribution effort is being expanded.