The news of a new strain of COVID-19 virus shook the world. While the newest variant, called VUI-202012/01 (the first variant under investigation in December 2020), does not seem to be more deadly, it is spreading at a much faster pace than the original. During FiveThirtyEight’s PODCAST-19, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the nation’s leading expert on infectious diseases, discussed the new coronavirus, urging people to take the mutation seriously. Read on, and to ensure the health and well-being of others, don’t miss these things Signs that you already have coronavirus.
It is not the first time – nor the last – that COVID will move
Dr. Fauci began by explaining that this is not the first or last time the virus will move. “Well, I think it’s important to point out that because this is an RNA virus, we’re going to see it move and it will continue to move,” he explained. “To think that he will not accumulate mutations is naive. He will do that absolutely.”
However, it is not clear what this will mean in terms of the severity of the new mutations or how they will react to vaccines. “The real question is what did you ask: Does the mutation induce a functional difference? Does it change functionally? At present, it is clear that this new variant is spreading quite quickly in the south-east of England, and another variant is in South Africa. “Cause and effect? Does the mutation cause increased spread? Or do you see an increased spread of a mutation that followed? We don’t know that.”
“We must be careful”
Fauci called for the importance of taking the new mutation seriously. “We have to be careful. We have to follow it very carefully,” he said. “We know that virulence almost certainly does not increase, it is not a more deadly virus, number one. And number two, it is extremely unlikely to interfere with the effectiveness of a vaccine. Having said that, he has to take serious mutations. ”
Although he does not yet suggest anything “draconian, such as blocking any journey from one to another,” he explained that “you need to take it seriously enough so that if it has a significant functional effect, you can act accordingly.” “
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How to survive this pandemic
As for you, follow Fauci’s fundamentals and help stop this growth, no matter where you live – wear a the mask, social distance, avoid large crowds, do not go inside with people you do not take shelter with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, get vaccinated when available and to protect your life and others, no visit none of these 35 places you most likely catch COVID.