New travel restrictions have been established to and from the UK.
Infectious disease experts said changes in the virus’s genetic code and variations in it are expected.
“Most of these variations mean nothing, don’t amount to anything, are very insignificant, but from time to time it can change some of the properties of the virus, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse,” Dr. Irfan Hafiz, a specialist in infectious diseases in northwestern medicine.
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Scientific modeling, not data, has shown that the new variant is much more contagious.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s already here in the United States, that’s basically the nature of viruses, which mutate,” said Dr. Richard Novak, director of infectious diseases at the UIC.
While there are claims of greater transmissibility, the good news is that experts said it doesn’t mean the new variant is more deadly or resistant to vaccines.
“There doesn’t seem to be clear evidence, but you need to study them a little more, if someone plans to vaccinate you, I would encourage you not to change that at this time,” Hafiz said.
The Modern Vaccine is being shipped this week and scientists are still hoping the vaccines will be effective in reducing the pandemic.
But, scientists said a new variant means the coronavirus will not go away and could be in a certain capacity for a long time.
“This is a call that we absolutely need to be vigilant and not let our guard down, we need to keep monitoring all virus changes and respond to them,” he said.
Infectious disease experts stressed that it is important to control any advanced infection with vaccinated people.
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