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1/ New COVID variants are emerging:
- B.1.1.7 from the UK: more transmissible, possibly more virulent. Even if not more virulent, more transmissible = more infections, more disease, more hospitalizations, more death.
- B.1.1.7 from the UK: more transmissible, possibly more virulent. Even if not more virulent, more transmissible = more infections, more disease, more hospitalizations, more death.
2/
- 501Y.V2 from South Africa: immune response elicited by both natural infection & vaccines may be blunted with lower neutralizing antibody activity BUT the Pfizer/Moderna vaccines still appear to be effective. We should soon have data on the AstraZeneca and J&J vaccines, too.
- 501Y.V2 from South Africa: immune response elicited by both natural infection & vaccines may be blunted with lower neutralizing antibody activity BUT the Pfizer/Moderna vaccines still appear to be effective. We should soon have data on the AstraZeneca and J&J vaccines, too.
3/ P.1 from Brazil: More transmissible like B.1.1.7 variant from UK. Blunted immune response like 501Y.V2 variant from South Africa. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/01/27/coronavirus-brazil-variant-manaus/
4/ All three COVID variants are here in the U.S.
- B.1.1.7 from UK: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7003e2.htm
- P.1 from Brazil: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/brazil-coronavirus-variant-minnesota/2021/01/25/bff5a8de-5f53-11eb-9430-e7c77b5b0297_story.html
- 501Y.V2 from South Africa: https://scdhec.gov/index.php/news-releases/south-carolina-public-health-officials-detect-nations-first-known-cases-covid-19
- B.1.1.7 from UK: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7003e2.htm
- P.1 from Brazil: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/brazil-coronavirus-variant-minnesota/2021/01/25/bff5a8de-5f53-11eb-9430-e7c77b5b0297_story.html
- 501Y.V2 from South Africa: https://scdhec.gov/index.php/news-releases/south-carolina-public-health-officials-detect-nations-first-known-cases-covid-19
5/ The CDC has predicted that the B.1.1.7 variant from the UK will likely become the dominant strain the U.S. by March. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/coronavirus-uk-variant-more-contagious-us-dominant-strain
6/ The more we allow the infection to spread, the more it has a chance to mutate, the more variants will arise. It is urgent that we stop transmission.
7/ In addition to accelerating vaccine rollout, we have to double down on masking (and double-masking), social distancing, keeping to household bubbles, socializing outdoors not indoors, and enhancing indoor ventilation. https://www.today.com/video/dr-fauci-double-masking-against-mutant-coronavirus-just-makes-common-sense-99959365958
