Tracking a more contagious strain of COVID-19
Experts are tracking the most contagious strain of coronavirus.
ATLANTA – Georgian health officials say a fifth person tested positive for a coronavirus variant strain.
The new strain, which first appeared in the United Kingdom, is known as B.1.1.7.
Scientists say it is no longer serious or deadly, but it is up to 50% more transmissible than other strains of the virus.
The variant led to a record increase in infections and hospitalizations in the UK, and a report published on Friday by a British government scientific committee noted that there was a “realistic possibility” that the new variant could be more deadly than the current strains of the virus.
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Georgia’s Kaiser Permanente, epidemiologist, Dr. Felipe Lobelo, says the UK variant is worrying because it has a large number of changes in the peak protein on the virus’s surface, which allows the virus to cling and infect healthy cells In the upper respiratory tract.
Because it is more transmissible, says Lobelo, it requires more care.
“If we used to have this 15-minute window with someone at high risk, maybe that window will now shorten to 5 minutes, again, because the virus is more contagious,” says Lobelo. “So, you have to double in terms of wearing a mask. If you have access to an N95, especially if you are indoors, it is a good idea to use an N95.”
Self-quarantine tips for people infected or at risk of contracting the coronavirus
Wearing masks and not sharing personal items is the key to maintaining good health.
Medical grade N95 masks are still scarce and necessary for healthcare professionals.
There are alternatives, such as the KN95 and KF94 masks, which can be purchased online.
If you use a cloth mask, use one with two or three layers instead of one.
“And, obviously, try to keep your distance,” says Dr. Lobelo. “Because of this strain, we know it is here and will lead to more infections. Therefore, we need to double our defenses before launching a vaccination wide enough to decrease this transmission.”
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As of Thursday, almost 600,000 Georgians had been vaccinated, most of them receiving the first of the two vaccines.
But with the state receiving just 120,000 doses a week, trying to vaccinate enough people before the variant has spread has been a challenge.
And, says Lobelo, Georgia’s hospitals are already overloaded.
As of Friday, 5,300 patients with COVID-19 were hospitalized in Georgia and 92% of the ICU beds are occupied.
“If this continues for more weeks, we will be heading towards a situation similar to Los Angeles, where there are patterns of crisis in care, where ICUs are so full that they cannot take many more people,” he says.
This variant is transmitted in the same way as the most common strains of the virus.
Therefore, Dr. Lobelo recommends the same safety precautions.
Wear a mask whenever you leave the house, he says, avoid close contact and crowded indoor environments.
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