The reports came out of a horror movie. The new “most contagious” strain of COVID – first discovered in the UK – appeared in Colorado and now in California. The news comes in the same week that we had more COVID deaths than ever, and after a disappointing vaccine implementation, in which only 3 million people received the vaccine, well below the 20 million projected for the end of the year. “How should we be concerned?” Today Show host Craig Melvin asked Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading infectious disease specialist and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, this morning. “And should we assume at this point that this mutated strain is probably already widespread in this country?” Read on to hear Fauci’s response, as well as how you can protect yourself – and to ensure your health and that of others, don’t miss out on these Clear signs that you’ve had Coronavirus.
Fauci answered bluntly: “Well, it’s here,” he said. “Without a doubt. I mean, we predicted it would be when you had so much of it in the UK, which then spread to other countries in Europe and Canada, it was inevitable that you were here. So you will be hearing reports from other states and more cases in the States that have already reported. And unfortunately, this is the reality of how these viruses spread. Obviously, you have to take this very seriously. Our British colleagues have clearly shown that it is much more efficient in transmitting from person to person. news is that it doesn’t seem to be more virulent, that is, making people sicker and leading to more deaths, so that’s a good thing. I mean, obviously we don’t want to see a virus with a greater spreading capacity. “Keep reading to see how to protect yourself.
“Another thing that is important and favorable,” continued Fauci, “does not seem to escape the protection afforded by the vaccines that are currently being used. But the fact that you have a virus that spreads more efficiently is something that is important and needs to be taken seriously. This just underscores the need to continue to put our foot on the bottom of the pedal to ensure that we take the public health measures that we talk about all the time. “For those, keep reading.
You know you should, but do you know why you should? “To understand the reason for wearing a mask to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, it is useful to understand how the virus spreads from person to person,” wrote Fauci in a newspaper a few months ago. “SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted primarily by respiratory droplets exhaled by infected individuals; these droplets span a range of sizes. Larger droplets fall from the air relatively quickly while close to the source, usually at a distance of 1.8 m. Drops smaller ones, often called aerosols, are also present in a close range, but can remain in the air over time and over greater distances, decreasing concentration as they move out of their source. “A mask prevents these drops from entering your body – and prevent you from spreading them.
You just read about how COVID is “transmitted primarily by respiratory droplets”. Remember the next time you are close to someone – and stay at least six weeks (or two meters) away.
“You want to stay away from places like bars where people gather – and in some places you even see authorities closing bars,” said Fauci.
RELATED: COVID symptoms usually appear in this order, the study concluded
“These are the kinds of things that will prevent this new strain from spreading further,” said Fauci. So follow Fauci’s fundamentals and help stop this wave, no matter where you live – use a face mask, social distance, avoid large crowds, do not go home with people you are not sheltering (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, be vaccinated when it is available to you and to protect your life and the lives of others, don’t visit any of these 35 places you’re most likely to reach COVID.