- UK authorities recently discovered a new strain of coronavirus that is said to be 70% more contagious.
- The UK, in response, instituted strict closure measures across the country.
- Although dozens of countries have implemented travel bans in the UK, Dr. Fauci does not believe a travel ban between the United States and the United Kingdom is necessary at this time.
In recent days, there have been some worrying reports of a coronavirus mutation that is said to be spreading rapidly across the UK. The mutation is especially troubling, as it is 70% more infectious than the initial strain that brought the world to its knees earlier this year. As a result, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, recently instituted tighter closure measures to prevent massive outbreaks across the country. In some areas, Christmas gatherings with non-household members were completely banned.
“When the virus changes its method of attack, we have to change our method of defense,” Johnson said over the weekend. “We have to act on the information as we have it because it is now spreading very quickly.”
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In light of the new strain, dozens of countries around the world recently imposed new travel bans restricting travel to and from the UK. The United States, however, has not instituted such a ban, although some states have chosen to take matters into their own hands. Travelers based in the UK heading to New York City, for example, will have to present evidence of a negative COVID-19 test before embarking on the flight.
Interestingly, both Dr Anthony Fauci and CDC Director Robert Redfield believe travel bans in the UK are unnecessary, especially as the new strain is not believed to be immune to the new Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
During a recent interview with CNN, Fauci warned against a new travel ban while insisting on the importance of not overreacting.
“Follow it carefully, but don’t overreact to it,” Fauci said.
CNN add:
Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN that while the United States must “watch it without a doubt,” he warned, “We don’t want to overreact,” and said he would discourage the suspension of flights from of the UK if the issue arises during a meeting of the White House coronavirus working group on Monday.
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Robert Redfield, also told another member of the coronavirus working group, the adm. Brett Giroir, who currently does not recommend additional travel restrictions.
Meanwhile, the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the U.S. In the last two weeks alone, deaths and hospitalizations have increased by 19% and 13%, respectively. And with hospitals treating an influx of new patients, many ICUs in hospitals across the country have near or full capacity.
As for when this terrible saga could end, the administration of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine finally began last week, as health workers received the first batch of doses. According to Fauci, healthy Americans will likely start getting the vaccine in late March or early April. Assuming most Americans get the vaccine, Fauci believes life could return to normalcy next summer
“I think if we are efficient and convince people to get vaccinated, we can get it in the late second quarter of early 2021, specifically in late spring and early summer,” Fauci said earlier this month. “It will really depend on the efficiency of the launch.”
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A lifelong Mac enthusiast and Apple enthusiast, Yoni Heisler has been writing about Apple and the tech industry in general for over 6 years. His writings have appeared in Edible Apple, Network World, MacLife, Macworld UK and, more recently, in TUAW. When not writing or analyzing recent events with Apple, Yoni enjoys taking Improv programs in Chicago, playing football, and cultivating new addictions to television shows, the most recent examples being The Walking Dead and Broad City.