UK coronavirus variant that was detected last year in England. The spread of the virus was more potent than the original strain. People who are infected with coronavirus in the US mostly have this strain running in their bodies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed this news last week.
UK coronavirus variant B.1.1.7 is spreading quickly
UK coronavirus variant, also known as the B.1.1.7 virus strain, spread rapidly in England and Ireland last fall. As the number of infections rose, the level of lockdown and restrictions came along. Since the lockdown did help to break the chain during the spread of the original strain, this option was the best to turn to.
According to the director of CDC, Rochelle Walensky, the UK coronavirus variant is the most common strain in the United States right now. The announcement came after several cases, specifically among youngsters, were rising. The spread fuels fears in the nation, and the country might see another deadly surge.
The newer strain of the coronavirus is more transmissible among youngsters. As per reports, the surge in the number of cases is happening due to daycare centers and youth sports.
The director urges people not to let their guard down and to get vaccines as soon as possible. She also said that states and communities that have high transmission levels need to curtail their activities. To do so, sports should be suspended, and other activities that require gathering should be stopped. Lastly, Walensky said that the virus has a stronghold on the people, and the public needs to stay vigilant.
CDC had warned about B.1.1.7 variant in January
At the beginning of 2021, CDC had warned about the spread of the B.1.1.7 virus. As forecasted, by the end of March, it became the most dominant variant spreading in the country.
According to studies, the variant is 50% more transmissible than the original strain of COVID-19, identified in China in 2019. The surge in the number of cases in the US also reflects that the fact is true. (dentalassociatesmn.com)
Since lockdown has eased to revive the economy and make things normal again, many places have contributed to this surge. Places like restaurants, bars, and gyms have opened up; these are the areas where transmission is highest.
The UK B.1.1.7 strain not only spreads fast but has a higher potential to kill people as well. India is one of the live examples of how the variant is spreading and killing thousands of people every single day.
In January, Emma Hodcroft, epidemiologist of the University of Bern in Switzerland, had alarmed the steep curve that is quickly infecting numerous people and would continue to do so. A professor of epidemiology from Harvard, William Hanage, had said that the variant makes people much sicker than before. He had also said that the UK variant would be dominant in the US.
The good part of all this is that a decent number of people have been vaccinated already. However, the country is nowhere controlling the cases as the spread continues.
Since older adults have majorly been vaccinated already, the possibility of winding up in a hospital is low. However, the impact on the younger generation is high right now. Many of them are facing severity and complications in their infections.
Writing allows me to pour my heart out in words. So, that’s what I’ve been doing for the past 6 years. I strive to bring in a change in the world by taking tiny steps of curating the right message that needs to be conveyed.
