The highly contagious strain of the UK COVID has reached the United States, with cases emerging in at least 20 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency went so far as to predict that the variant, known as B.1.1.7, will become the predominant COVID strain in the U.S. in March. However, new research suggests that a particular vaccine may be able to keep you safe, so read on to find out how to protect yourself. And for more information on where the new variant is spreading, read about how The UK COVID Strain is now in these states.
According to a preprint of the BioNTech study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine appears to be able to provide immunity against B.1.1.7 to those who receive it. The research, conducted by scientists in the translational oncology department at the University Medical Center at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, found that the vaccine provided equivalent protection against a variant originating in the UK laboratory, as well as the non-mutant form of the virus.
According to the study’s authors, this will make it “very unlikely that UK variant viruses will escape” from the immunity conferred by the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
However, this is not the only way to reduce your risk – keep reading to find steps that can help you avoid the new UK variety. And for another tip on how to stay safe, check out You need to take 2 of these anytime now, says the CDC.
While wearing a mask when you’re out and about gives you and the people around you some protection from COVID, wearing two is even better. According Linsey Marr, PhD, Virginia Tech virus transmission specialist and co-author of a January 2021 report published in CellPress, when layered masks, “you start to achieve very high efficiencies” against the spread of COVID. And to learn more about the masks you shouldn’t use, see The CDC warns against using these 6 face masks.
While wearing a mask is essential to stop the spread of COVID, it does not mean that you do not have to keep your distance from others. According to a January 2021 study conducted by researchers at the University of Vermont, mask users who ignored recommendations for social distance were actually more likely to develop COVID than those who did not wear masks, but had less social contacts. And to learn more about the signs that you may be sick, know that if you notice it in your mouth, you may have COVID, warn the experts.
If you are driving in a car with someone outside your home, it is essential that you also keep the windows open to encourage adequate airflow. However, a study published in Advances in Science reveals that opening the window next to you may not be the best course of action – instead, the study’s authors claim that opening the window furthest from you “appears to offer the best protection.” And to get the latest COVID news directly to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
You may think you are washing your hands enough to protect yourself from COVID, but the research says otherwise. According to the CDC, 29.4% of people forget to wash their hands before eating at a restaurant; 28.8 percent do not wash them after coughing, sneezing or blowing their nose; 25.6 percent do not wash them before eating at home; 14.3 percent do not wash them before preparing food at home; 10.4 percent do not wash them after using the bathroom at home; and 5.2 percent do not wash them after using public toilets – all the critical moments to practice hand hygiene to prevent the spread of COVID. And to learn more about what you can Stop what are you doing to avoid the virus, check out these 2 COVID precautions may not be necessary after all, a new study has found.