CNN – The variant of coronavirus that first appeared in the United Kingdom is now the dominant variant in the United States.
Variant B.1.1.7 of SARS-CoV-2 is present in all 50 US states and contributes to increased coronavirus infection, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Not only does it seem more transmissible; some research also suggests that it can cause more severe illnesses, putting more people at risk of hospitalization and death.
What should people do to protect themselves against this more contagious variant? I asked CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and visiting professor of health policy and management at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health. He is also the author of the upcoming book “Lifelines: A Doctor’s Journey in the Fight for Public Health.”
CNN: What should we do differently now that B.1.1.7 has become dominant in the United States?
Dr. Leana Wen: Variant B.1.1.7 is more transmissible than previous strains, which means we need to be even more careful. Some previously low-risk activities – such as grocery shopping and public transportation – now have a higher risk of transmitting the virus. Those who had a high risk before – such as going to indoor bars or gathering in large crowds – are now at even greater risk.
We need to be even more vigilant than before. For example, if you plan to eat outdoors at a restaurant, check to make sure it meets CDC recommendations and that there is a distance of at least 6 meters between meals. Those who are not yet fully vaccinated should wait until they are vaccinated before eating in the immediate vicinity with someone else at their table.
That being said, this variant is as widespread as other variants. The same measures we used before to prevent the spread of coronavirus are still effective now. This means wearing a mask in public, exercising physical distance and avoiding indoor encounters with people who are not in your household.
It is even more critical than ever to be vaccinated as soon as it is your turn.
CNN: Do vaccines work against this variant?
Wen: Yes – and this is a very important point. All currently authorized vaccines offer a good level of protection against B.1.1.7 (remember that no vaccine is 100% effective, but vaccination against Covid-19 means that you have a much lower risk of contracting the disease and get seriously ill with it). There are other options against which vaccines may be a little more effective. However, vaccines are still the critical tool to prevent these and other variants that may develop in the future.
Viruses move when they reproduce. The best way to prevent viruses from moving is to stop the spread. We help slow down and stop the spread when we are vaccinated.
CNN: What about this variant that makes it particularly dangerous for young people?
Wen: In recent weeks, we are seeing more young people becoming infected. This includes teenagers, as well as people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. This is probably due to a combination of factors.
Older people are the ones who have been vaccinated first and are thus more protected. Many young people are not yet vaccinated and, given the high level of activity, when there is a more contagious variant, they are more likely to be infected. There may also be something about B.1.1.7 that makes it easier to attach to the respiratory system and allow people to harbor more viruses, making them sicker and more infectious to others.
All this suggests that it is not so much that the virus somehow preferentially attacks young people, but young people are more vulnerable because many have not been vaccinated.
CNN: What should we do to avoid infection with this more transmissible variant?
Wen: For people who are not vaccinated, they should try to be vaccinated as soon as possible. This is the best defense against this variant – and others.
Until they can be vaccinated, they should double all precautions. Again, this means wearing a mask in all public places. Studies have shown that it helps to wear two masks – a well-fitting cloth mask over a surgical mask. I would wear two masks like this or an N95 mask in higher risk conditions, such as if you use public transportation or attend a church service with a lot of people around you.
Try to avoid the settings with the highest risk of people not having masks, such as indoor tables. Socialize only outdoors, with members of different households at least 6 meters away.
CNN: The CDC specifically specified youth sports as an infection factor. Should they stop?
Wen: It’s true that in Michigan and Minnesota, among other places, there were outbreaks associated with youth sports. With this more transmissible variant B.1.1.7 and the fact that young people under 16 cannot be vaccinated yet, it is better to be careful.
Sports that can be played outdoors will be much safer than those played indoors. Contact sports, such as wrestling, will have a much higher risk than, say, football or lacrosse. Players should wear masks at all times when physical distance cannot be maintained. Regular testing of all players’ surveillance can help – for example, if everyone is tested twice a week to check for asymptomatic infection.
It is very important for parents to monitor informal settings as much as formal settings. You would not want all precautions to be followed during organized sports, only for the transmission to take place at the post-match pizza party. Or for student-athletes to let their guard down and transmit the virus to the locker room if everyone gathers there, without masks, for long periods of time.
Ideally, these types of social interactions are limited for the time being, with strict precautions followed to prevent the spread of the virus and to allow as much of the real sport – and personal schooling – as possible.
CNN: But people who are completely vaccinated – do they still have to be just as careful?
Wen: The vaccines we have work very well against variant B.1.1.7. People who are completely vaccinated should know that they are very well protected against this strain. “Completely vaccinated” means that at least two weeks have passed since someone received their vaccines.
Nothing is 100%. What people choose to do once fully vaccinated will depend on their values and choices. After vaccination, activities that once had a high risk will have a lower risk, but there will still be some risk. This must be weighed against the benefits of these activities.
The CDC says fully vaccinated people can be seen and can visit another household with unvaccinated family members, as long as unvaccinated people are not at high risk for severe Covid-19 results. It is definitely necessary to wear masks in public places, even after you have been vaccinated, and to reduce the time in high-risk environments, such as crowded places inside, with unvaccinated people.
I advocated thinking of a “coronavirus budget” – in essence, knowing that you can’t do everything, but you should choose the things that are most important to you.
CNN: Even with a different version, is your basic advice to follow the same safeguards we already have?
Wen: That’s right. We must keep in mind that the pandemic is not over. There is absolutely hope and hope is here, but we must still be careful, especially because of this more contagious variant.
Please continue to disguise yourself, physically distance yourself and avoid gatherings inside. Aim to vaccinate as soon as possible. Vaccination is the key to stopping this virus from continuing to spread and make many more people sick.