As COVID cases in the U.S. continue to rise, experts have doubled their warnings against travel and the spread of the virus. However, there is one more piece to the puzzle – the UK’s COVID strain. When the new variant was residing abroad, Americans may not have been too concerned. Now that the strain has landed in the United States, experts are warning about its dangers. Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), said that we cannot ignore this “serious” COVID development. Read on to learn more about the new strain and to get more information from Fauci, Dr. Fauci Just Said The state’s COVID situation is “unimaginable”.
While some people may have been apathetic about the new strain of COVID detected in the UK in late December, Fauci made his concern clear. During an interview with NPR on January 7, Fauci was asked how much the new coronavirus strain worried him. “Well, you always have to be concerned when you see mutations that have a functional capacity,” he said. He continued to point out that although “most mutations of RNA viruses in many ways are meaningless”, the UK strain is a different beast.
“We know from experience in the UK that this particular virus is spreading much more quickly,” added Fauci. “The final answer to your question is serious enough, we have to pay attention to it. We cannot just ignore it.” He added that the new strain “underscores the need to adhere to public health measures that would prevent the spread of any virus, regardless of the mutant.”
During the NPR interview, Fauci was also asked whether he thought the number of COVID-related deaths would continue to show a negative trend. “Unfortunately, I believe so,” replied the doctor, blaming the increase in cases on vacation trips. “As we enter the next few weeks in January, this will likely be a reflection of the travels in the holiday season and the congregational environments that usually happen socially during that time period … so we believe things will get worse as we go January.”
Although the full effects of the holiday get-togethers have yet to be seen, the United Kingdom’s COVID strain has already reached eight states. Read on to see where the mutation was found and for more Fauci warnings about the strain, Dr. Fauci just made this scary prediction about the UK’s COVID strain.
1
California
California confirmed its first case of the new variant on December 30 and now has more than 25 cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And for more news about coronavirus, if you have this symptom, you are more likely to have a mild case of COVID.
two
New York
On January 4, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the state first discovered the UK variety in a man from upstate New York who worked in Saratoga Springs. And for more up-to-date information, subscribe to our daily newsletter.
3
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Rachel Levine, MD, confirmed on January 7 that someone from Dauphin County tested positive for the new COVID strain after being exposed abroad.
4
Connecticut
Connecticut confirmed at least two cases of the British strain of COVID. Governor Ned Lamont said both cases are for people aged 15 to 25 who reside in New Haven County. According to Lamont, these two people recently traveled – one to Ireland and the other to New York. And to learn more about the spread of the coronavirus, it is the most likely to provide COVID, says the new study.
5
Georgia
On January 5, Georgia detected the UK variant in an 18-year-old with no recent travel history, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH). And for the symptoms you should be aware of, if this part of your body hurts, you may have COVID.
6
Florida
Florida was one of the first states to detect the new COVID strain on December 31. Florida Department of Health announced that a man in his 20s in Martin County with no recent travel history had the new variety. According to the CDC, Florida now has more than 20 cases of the new variant COVID.
7
Texas
A resident of Harris County, Texas, with no recent travel history, was the first confirmed case of the new strain in Lone Star State, according to a January 7 statement from the Texas State Department of Health (DSHS) . “The fact that this person has no travel history suggests that this variant is already circulating in Texas,” DSHS commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD, said in the statement.
8
Colorado
Colorado is the site of the first reported case of the United Kingdom strain on American soil. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported the case on December 30. The patient was an isolated man in his 20s in Elbert County, with no recent travel history.