The two cases were discovered in adults from different regions of the state and do not appear to be connected. None of the infected people have traveled recently, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control said.
“This is terrifying,” because it means there may be more undetected cases in the state, said Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious disease physician at South Carolina Medical University in Charleston. “It’s probably more widespread.”
The arrival of the variant shows that “the fight against this deadly virus is far from over,” Dr. Brannon Traxler, South Carolina’s interim director of public health, said in a statement. “While there are more vaccines against COVID-19 on the way, supplies remain limited. Each of us must start the fight again recognizing that we are now all in the front line. We are all together.”
MIRAR | Dr. Fauci analyzes mass vaccination plans and new variants of COVID-19
Viruses are constantly mutating and coronavirus variants are circulating around the world, but scientists are primarily concerned about the appearance of three. Other variants that were first reported in the UK and Brazil were previously confirmed in the US. Researchers believe that these three variants can be spread more easily.
As variants offer a higher risk of infection in the U.S., pandemic-tired lawmakers in several states backtrack on masked mandates, company closures, and other protection restrictions ordered by governors.
States such as Arizona, Michigan, Ohio, Maryland, Kentucky and Indiana are weighing proposals to limit the ability of their rulers to impose emergency restrictions. The Wisconsin legislature was expected to vote on revoking the governor’s mask mandate. Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering a constitutional amendment to deprive their governor of many of his emergency powers.
Governors argue that they need authority to act quickly in a crisis, and limitations can curb critical emergency responses.
In South Carolina, the state health agency said the variant was found in one person in the coastal region of the state and another in its northeast corner. The state gave little information, citing privacy issues, although Traxler said none of the people were infected anymore.
MORE: Avoid Preventive Analgesics Before Taking a COVID-19 Vaccine, According to Experts
“Both were tested earlier this month and I understand they are both doing well,” Traxler said.
Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, eased most of the state’s remaining pandemic restrictions in the fall. Spokesman Brian Symmes said McMaster has no plans to order new restrictions based on the discovery of the variant.
“This information is important to South Carolinians,” McMaster said in a tweet, “but it’s not a cause for panic.”
Scientists reported preliminary signs last week that some of the recent mutations could modestly slow down the effectiveness of two vaccines, though they stressed that the shots still protect against the disease. There are also signs that some of the new mutations may undermine virus testing and reduce the effectiveness of certain treatments.
The coronavirus has already made millions sick and killed approximately 430,000 people in the United States.
Although the launch of vaccines has been slow, President Joe Biden has pledged to administer 100 million injections in his first 100 days in office, suggesting that the U.S. may reach 1.5 million. millions of shots a day.
SEE ALSO: What we know so far about COVID-19 variants worldwide
Although some European countries do extensive genetic testing to detect these variants, the United States has done little of this detective work. But scientists have been quickly trying to do more, which has revealed the most contagious variants.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported at least 315 cases of the variant discovered in the United Kingdom in the United States. These reports come from at least 28 states and health officials believe it could become the dominant strain in the United States in March. This variant has been reported in at least 70 countries.
The first U.S. case of the variant found in Brazil was announced earlier this week by Minnesota health officials. He was a person who recently traveled to that South American nation. This version of the virus has appeared in more than half a dozen countries.
The variant first found in South Africa was detected in October. Since then, it has been found in at least 30 more countries.
Some evidence suggests that South African and Brazilian variants may be less susceptible to antibody medications or antibody-rich blood from COVID-19 survivors, which help people fight the virus.
Health officials are also worried that if the virus changes enough, people could get COVID-19 a second time.
Biden on Monday reinstated COVID-19 travel restrictions on most travelers not belonging to the United States from Brazil, the United Kingdom and South Africa. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that Americans avoid traveling.
___
Stobbe reported from New York.
Copyright © 2021 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.