Experts are watching closely as the data shows several different variants of COVID-19 emerging in Massachusetts.
In Massachusetts, 441 cases of the United Kingdom variant, four cases of the Brazilian variant and nine cases of the South African variant have been reported, according to data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state laboratory is sequencing the three variants to see if they are causing an increase in cases in Massachusetts.
“I remain concerned with the latest data and the apparent stagnation that we are seeing in the path of the pandemic,” said CDC director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky. “The decisions we make now will determine what the pandemic will be like in the coming days and weeks.”
Experts said the UK variant is likely to become the dominant strain in the country in mid-April.
Despite an increasing number of residents being vaccinated, Massachusetts has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases in the past week. More than 1.1 million people are now fully vaccinated, state data show.
Vaccines are still effective against these variants, according to experts.
But health experts warn that the overall level of infection in the country is still very high.
“I am often asked, ‘Are we around the corner?’ my answer is more like, we’re on the corner, “said Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden.” Whether or not we will turn that corner is yet to be seen. “