Introduction
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, has warned that a new mutation of the coronavirus is here and is spreading rapidly. The new strain, known as B.1.1.7, was first identified in the United Kingdom and has since been detected in the United States. Dr. Fauci has warned that the new strain is more contagious than the original strain and could lead to a surge in cases if not contained. He has urged Americans to take extra precautions to protect themselves and their communities from the virus.
Dr. Fauci Warns the New COVID Mutation is Here
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, has warned that a new mutation of the coronavirus is here and could be more contagious than the original strain. The new strain, known as B.1.1.7, was first identified in the United Kingdom and has since spread to other countries, including the United States.
In an interview with CNN, Dr. Fauci said that the new strain is “clearly more transmissible” than the original strain, and that it could lead to a surge in cases if it is not contained. He urged people to take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, such as wearing masks, social distancing, and avoiding large gatherings.
Dr. Fauci also warned that the new strain could lead to an increase in hospitalizations and deaths if it is not contained. He said that the best way to prevent the spread of the virus is to get vaccinated as soon as possible. He also urged people to continue to follow the guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to protect themselves and others.
The new strain of the virus has already been detected in several states, including California, Florida, and New York. It is unclear how widespread the new strain is, but experts are warning that it could become the dominant strain in the United States by March. As such, it is important for people to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and others.
Throughout every week of highs (the Moderna vaccine was accredited) and lows (COVID-19 changing into the nation’s third-leading reason for demise), one scary bit of stories got here from the U.Okay., the place a brand new, seemingly extra transmissible COVID-19 pressure led the nation to lockdown absolutely earlier than Christmas. Will the mutation hit American shores? Is it already right here? Throughout an interview with Judy Woodruff on PBS Information Hour, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s high infectious illness knowledgeable and the director of the Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Ailments, mentioned what to fret about and methods to keep secure—learn on, and to make sure your well being and the well being of others, do not miss these Certain Indicators You have Already Had Coronavirus.
“It is one thing you wish to preserve an eye fixed out on,” he advised Woodruff. “You do not wish to simply blow it off. Actually not. You need to perceive, although Judy, that this coronavirus is an RNA virus. That is the make-up, the genetic make-up, and these kind of viruses are inclined to mutate so much. Many of the mutations haven’t any useful relevance. This one has a suggestion that it would permit the virus to unfold extra readily.”
As for that spreading readily, “we’re nonetheless in search of out proof to show or disprove that, however let’s make an assumption that it’s, in reality, making the virus extra transmissible—regardless that it hasn’t been confirmed but, it does not appear in any respect to have any affect on the virulence or what we name the deadliness of the virus. Would not make individuals extra sick and it does not appear to have any affect on the protecting nature of the vaccines that we’re at the moment utilizing. So it is one thing you are taking critically, you retain your eye out on it and also you do check to find out if there’s extra useful relevance than we appear to consider that there’s.”
“You need to make that assumption. Judy, while you see one thing that’s fairly prevalent in a spot just like the U.Okay., they’re additionally mutations that we’re seeing in South Africa and given the journey all through the world, I might not be shocked if it is already right here. Once we begin to search for it, we will discover it. Actually it isn’t but the prevalent one, the way in which it appears to have assumed that prevalent nature within the U.Okay., however we will be searching for it proper now. And I am positive in the end, we will run into it and discover it.”
“It may be untimely to do this,” he stated. “I do not suppose that that form of a draconian strategy is important. I feel we should always critically contemplate the potential for requiring testing of individuals earlier than they arrive from the U.Okay .right here. However I do not suppose that there is sufficient proof proper now to basically lock down any journey from the U.Okay., however critically, to think about the chance that you simply may wish to require people who find themselves coming right here to be examined inside a time period. You already know, they’re 24, 36 or 72 hours earlier than they get on a aircraft to come back to america.”
As for your self, comply with Fauci’s fundamentals and assist finish this surge, all of the extra so now that there could also be a extra transmissible variant on the unfastened—put on a face masks, social distance, keep away from massive crowds, do not go indoors with individuals you are not sheltering with (particularly in bars), apply good hand hygiene, get vaccinated when it turns into obtainable to you, and to guard your life and the lives of others, do not go to any of those 35 Locations You are Most Prone to Catch COVID.