The highly contagious variant first identified in the UK probably accounts for up to 30% of Covid-19 infections in the United States, White House Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anthony Fauci.
The variant, called B.1.1.7, has been reported in at least 94 countries and detected in 50 U.S. jurisdictions, Fauci said during a White House briefing on the pandemic, which added that it is the numbers are likely to grow.
The UK first identified strain B.1.1.7, which appears to be spreading more easily and quickly than other variants, last autumn. Since then, it has spread all over the world, including the United States, Fauci said. U.S. researchers have identified 5,567 cases by genetic sequencing as of Thursday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. health officials say the variant could become the dominant strain in the United States later this month or early April.
The new variants are of particular concern to public health officials, as they could be more resistant to antibody treatments and vaccines. Top health officials, including Fauci, have urged Americans to get vaccinated as soon as possible, saying the virus cannot mutate if it cannot infect guests and reproduce.
Public health officials and Americans can counter the variant by doing two things, Fauci said. “Vaccinate as many people as possible and as quickly as possible with a vaccine that we know works against this variant and finally implement the public health measures we’ve been talking about all along … masking, physical distancing and avoiding the congregation, particularly in the interior. “
A recent study published in the British Medical Journal found that the variant is associated with a 64% higher risk of dying from Covid-19 than previous strains. Researchers from the University of Exeter and the University of Bristol analyzed data from more than 100,000 patients in the UK between 1 October and 28 January.
“Right now we are in a position where we have about 53,000 cases a day,” Fauci said. “The concern is that across the country there are several states, cities and regions that are backtracking on some of the mitigation methods we’ve been talking about: the withdrawal of mask mandates, the withdrawal of essentially non-public measures are being implemented health care “.
Fauci’s comments on B.1.1.7 come a day after he met Republican Sen. Rand Paul over masks in an audience.
Paul stated that people should not wear masks after getting vaccinated because there is a “practically 0% chance” that they will put on Covid-19. “Isn’t it just theater?” asked the Kentucky junior senator, an ophthalmologist, during a hearing in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Work and Pensions.
In response, Fauci said the emergence of new highly contagious variants poses a threat to people who have antibodies. “I can state by the record that masks are not theater,” Fauci said. “I don’t totally agree with you.”