Fauci: mutant coronavirus strain must be taken ‘very seriously’

Fauci: mutant coronavirus strain must be taken ‘very seriously’

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Anthony FauciAnthony FauciTSA screened 1.1 million travelers the day after Christmas in Saudi Arabia to allow international outbound flights for foreigners. December, the deadliest month of the COVID-19 pandemic. MORE, the country’s leading infectious disease specialist, said on Sunday that people should “take the most contagious coronavirus strain” that emerged in southeastern England “very seriously.”

Fauci, who discouraged the UK’s total flight ban, said in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” that American officials were right to demand proof of negative coronavirus tests for anyone entering the country from Britain. -Brittany.

Public health officials are examining the new strain “very intensely now”, including questions like, “Does it make someone sicker? Is it a more serious virus in the sense of virulence? And the answer is: it doesn’t seem like that. “

Fauci added that while his British colleagues expressed confidence that the existing vaccines will be equally effective against the new strain, “we will do the studies ourselves,” according to the AP.

“We are obtaining isolates from it, making combinations of viruses, to be able to test directly, obtain sera from people we vaccinate and see if it still neutralizes this new strain, this mutant strain that comes from the United Kingdom, as well as from South Africa,” he added. . “There is a similar type of mutation, but not quite the same as what we are seeing in South Africa.”

Fauci declined to answer whether it was a mistake not to demand negative tests from British travelers before, telling CNN Dana BashDana Bash New members of the House of Democrats avoid questions about Pelosi’s vote as President of Parliament. Lawmakers ask Trump to sign a stimulus financing package as the government closes in., “Obviously, I think the decision to put some form of travel restriction – and the restriction could be completely blocking travel, which was decided not to do that.”

“But I think it is prudent and a good idea to do some kind of test and not let anyone board the UK plane unless you have a documented negative COVID-19 test,” he added.

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