Covid USA: At least 628 ‘super variant’ cases reported in 33 states

At least 645 cases of coronavirus variants have been reported from the UK, South Africa and Brazil in 33 states.

Of that number, at least 626 are linked to the British variant known as B 1.1.7. reveals a DailyMail.com analysis of state and federal data.

More than half of those cases have been reported in Florida and California, and there are two deaths related to the species, one in New Jersey and one in Alabama.

Experts have warned that this variety is expected to become the dominant species in the US in March.

There are currently five cases of the B.1.351 variant, which was first discovered in South Africa, three of which are in Maryland and two in South Carolina.

In addition, two cases of the P.1 strain originating from Brazil have been identified in Minnesota.

It’s because cases in the US have declined by more than 50 percent, but the number of deaths continues to rise with more than 5,000 fatalities – the highest total in one day ever – recorded yesterday.

A total of 645 cases of coronavirus variants have been reported from the UK, South Africa and Brazil in 33 states

A total of 645 cases of coronavirus variants have been reported in 33 states from the UK, South Africa and Brazil

All variants have mutations in their spike protein (circled in yellow) making it more contagious, possible reinfection and potentially immune to vaccines

All variants have mutations in their spike protein (circled in yellow) making it more contagious, possible reinfection and potentially immune to vaccines

Due to the emergence of new variants, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Thursday that it is developing guidelines to help vaccine, drug and test manufacturers adapt.

Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock said that while all three can work now, there is a possibility that they will not in the future.

“We have to prepare for all eventualities,” she said during a telephone conversation with reporters.

In the coming weeks, Woodcock said the FDA will make draft recommendations to adjust products as needed.

In recent weeks, concerns have been raised about variants of the virus, which appear to be more contagious.

The British variant was first discovered in the county of Kent and now accounts for at least 61 cases in Great Britain.

New Jersey records its first death from the British ‘Super COVID’ variant

New Jersey has recorded its first death from the highly contagious British variant of COVID-19.

The unidentified resident succumbed to the virus on Wednesday, state health commissioner Judith Persichilli confirmed at a press conference.

The victim had ‘significant underlying health problems’ but had no international travel history. Their age was not released.

The UK variant of the coronavirus, known as B 1.1.7 and called ‘Super-COVID’, is feared to be up to 70 percent more transmissible than the common coronavirus strain.

On Wednesday, six new cases of the Super-COVID were confirmed in New Jersey, with the ages of those who tested positive ranging from 10 to 65. Only one has recently traveled abroad. The New Jersey health department did not disclose which country the person had traveled to.

Initially, the mutation was feared to be more contagious than the common COVID-19 infection. However, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said last week that it is now feared that it could also be 30 percent more deadly.

Most estimates say it is about 70 percent more contagious, but some research suggests it could be twice as contagious.

More moderate projections say transferability is only about 56 percent higher.

Officials in the UK say the variant could be 30 to 40 percent more deadly, and so far there have been two deaths in the US related to the variant.

The South African variant was also first announced in December and shares mutation with the British variants, as well as several others.

President Joe Biden imposed a travel ban on people coming from South Africa in an attempt to stop imports of the new variety.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, says the South African variety is the most concerning as it can make vaccines less effective because of mutations that help it ‘hide’ from antibodies developed after vaccination or a previous attack by COVID. 19.

The variant first drew international attention when four travelers arriving in Tokyo from Manaus, Brazil, tested positive on January 2.

The variant has the same peak protein mutation as the highly transferable versions found in Kent and South Africa – called N501Y – which makes the peak more able to bind to receptors in the body.

Manaus, the largest city in the Amazon, has been destroyed by COVID-19. Hospitals are running out of oxygen and Brazilian officials have said it is in crisis.

Preliminary findings suggest that all five major vaccine candidates offer some protection against the variants, but the extent has varied.

Two weeks ago, Moderna announced that while the vaccine still works well enough to protect against the South African variant, lab tests suggest that the antibodies activated by the injection may be 60 percent less potent against the virus in vitro (in a cell culture, not a live animal or person).

Last week, the results of Novavax’s late stage study in the UK showed 95.6 percent efficacy against the original circulating variant and 85.6 percent against B 1.1.7.

But in the South Africa mid-stage study of about 4,000 participants, the Novavax injection was not as protective and was found to be only 49.4% effective for its variant, 501Y.V2.

In an article published Friday, the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford was found to be 74 percent effective against B 1.1.7.

However, the findings did not address whether or not such protection applies to B.1.351.

Last week, Dr. Fauci at a press conference that the variants are expected to become more dominant in the US in the spring,

During the same briefing, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said that every COVID-19 case in the US should be treated as if it were a case of the variant.

Father of two in Alabama dies of British ‘super-COVID’ at age 35

A family in Jefferson County, Alabama, mourns after a father of two dies from the British COVID-19 variant, who was only 35 years old.

Alfonzia Jackson Jr., 35, was diagnosed with the B.1.1.7 variant last week while struggling to live in UAB hospital.

On Tuesday night, his wife, Ashley Jackson, took to Facebook around 9 p.m. to announce that Alfonzia had passed away.

“Lord, this day has been difficult,” Ashley posted on Facebook. “I wouldn’t wish this on anyone when I said goodbye to my wonderful husband.”

She continued: ‘Our girls will really miss you, you were a wonderful father and I will keep your memory alive through them and they will always remember you.

WBRC previously reported on Alfonzia Jackson Jr., who Ashley said was hospitalized Jan. 22 with COVID symptoms and shortness of breath, despite having no idea how he might have contracted the virus.

“My husband just went to work and home,” Ashley Jackson said. ‘Gas station here and there. Nothing like going out and having fun, just a hard working man. ‘

Rapid tests showed a negative diagnosis for COVID-19, but after surgery to relieve heart failure, a PCR test showed Alfonzia had COVID-19.

Alfonzia was placed on a ventilator in the days before his death.

Alfonzia Jackson Jr., Ashley's husband and father of two daughters, passed away Tuesday night

Alfonzia Jackson Jr., Ashley’s husband and father of two daughters, passed away Tuesday night

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