(CNN) – A variant of the coronavirus first discovered in the United Kingdom is now the dominant variant in the United States.
The B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2 is present in all 50 US states and is contributing to the increase in coronavirus infections, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Not only does it appear to be more transmissible, but some studies also suggest it may cause more serious illness, with an increased risk of hospitalization and death.
What do people have to do to protect themselves against this most contagious variety? We asked Dr. Leana Wen, CNN medical analyst, emergency physician and visiting professor of health policy and management at George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. She is also the author of the upcoming book “Lifelines: A Doctor’s Journey in the Fight for Public Health.”
CNN: Now that variant B.1.1.7 has become dominant in America, what should we do differently?
Dra. Leana Wen: Variant B.1.1.7 is more transferable than the previous strains, which means we have to be even more careful. Some activities that we previously considered low risk, such as going to the supermarket or taking public transport, now have a higher risk of transmission of the virus. Those who were once at high risk, such as going to closed bars or meeting large crowds, now are even more so.
Diners dining out in New York City on April 10. With the spread of the most contagious varieties, you should know that eating outside is less of a risk than eating inside. Make sure to sit with your family. Takeout food is ideal, said Dr. Wen.
You have to be even more careful than before. For example, if you are going to eat outside in a restaurant, check that they meet CDC guidelines and that there are at least six feet between the tables. Those who have not yet been fully vaccinated should wait for them to be fully vaccinated before dining at someone else’s table.
That said, this variant, like others, is contagious. The same measures we previously used to prevent the spread of the coronavirus still work today. That means wearing a mask in public, exercising physical distance, and avoiding indoor gatherings with people outside your home.
It’s more important than ever to get vaccinated as soon as it touches you.
CNN: Do vaccines work against this variant?
Wen: Yes, and this is a very important point, all currently approved vaccines provide a good level of protection against B.1.1.7 (remember, no vaccine is 100% effective, but getting vaccinated against covid-19 will run you a lot less risk of the disease and becoming seriously ill). There are other variants against which vaccines may be slightly less effective. However, vaccines remain the fundamental tool to prevent these other variants as well, as well as other variants that may be developed in the future.
Viruses mutate when they replicate. The best way to prevent viruses from mutating is to keep them from spreading. We help slow and stop the spread when we get vaccinated.
CNN: What makes this variant especially dangerous for young people?
Wen: In recent weeks we have registered that a larger proportion of young people have become infected. This includes teens as well as people in their twenties, thirties and forties. This is likely due to a combination of factors.
The elderly are the ones who have been vaccinated first and are therefore better protected. Many younger people have not yet been vaccinated and given their higher activity level, when there is a more contagious variant, they are more likely to become infected. It is also possible that there is something in B.1.1.7 that makes it more easily attached to the airways and that people harbor more viruses, possibly making them sicker and more contagious to others as well.
All of this suggests that it is not so much that the virus somehow attacks very young people, but rather that very young children are more vulnerable, as many have not been vaccinated.
CNN: What should we do to avoid getting infected by this most transmissible variety?
Wen: People who have not been vaccinated should try to get vaccinated as soon as possible. That is the best defense against this variant and others.
Until they can be vaccinated, they need to double down on all precautions. Again, that means wearing a mask in all public places. Studies have shown that wearing two masks is beneficial: a tight-fitting cloth mask over a surgical mask.
I would wear two masks like this one or one N95 mask in the places of greatest risk, for example if you are using public transport or attending a church service indoors with a lot of people around you.
Try to avoid riskier environments where people don’t wear masks, such as indoor dining rooms. Socialize outdoors only, with members of different households at least six feet apart.
CNN: The CDC has specifically designated youth sports as promoters of infections. Should they stop exercising?
Wen: It is true that there have been outbreaks related to youth sports in Michigan and Minnesota, among others. Caution is advised with this variant B.1.1.7, which is more transferable, and the fact that young people under the age of 16 cannot yet be vaccinated.
Sports that can be played outdoors are much safer than those that can be played indoors. Contact sports such as wrestling carry a much higher risk than, say, football or lacrosse. Players must wear face masks at all times when physical distance cannot be maintained. Regular surveillance testing of all players can help, for example, if everyone is tested twice a week for an asymptomatic infection.
It is very important that parents supervise both informal and formal situations. You don’t want every precaution to be taken during organized sports, just to have the post-match broadcast at the pizza party. Or for student athletes who are wary of spreading the virus in the locker room when everyone gathers there for a longer period of time without a mask.
Ideally, these types of social interactions should be limited for the time being and strict precautions taken to prevent the spread of the virus and allow for as many sports and in-person classes as possible.
CNN: What about people who are fully vaccinated should they remain just as careful?
Wen: The vaccines we have work very well against variant B.1.1.7. People who have been fully vaccinated should know that they are very well protected against this species. “Fully vaccinated” means that it has been at least two weeks since someone received their vaccinations.
Nothing is 100%. What people decide to do once they are fully vaccinated depends on their values and their choices. After you are vaccinated, activities that were previously high risk will be a lower risk, but there will still be some risk. This has to be weighed against the benefit of these activities.
The CDC states that fully vaccinated individuals can be seen and visit another home with unvaccinated family members, as long as unvaccinated individuals are not at high risk of serious consequences from COVID-19.
It is imperative to wear masks in public places, even after vaccination, and to shorten the time in high-risk environments, such as closed places full of unvaccinated people.
I’ve advocated thinking about a “coronavirus budget,” that is, knowing that you can’t do everything, but you should choose the things that matter most to you.
CNN: Even with a different variant, is your basic advice to follow the same protective measures that we already follow?
Wen: That’s how it is. We must be aware that the pandemic is not over yet. Hope is absolute and it is here, but we still have to be careful, especially for this more contagious variety.
Continue to wear masks, stay physically detached, and avoid indoor gatherings. Try to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Vaccination is key to preventing this virus from spreading and can make many more people sick.