Global coronavirus cases passed 100 million on Wednesday as countries grapple with new ones variants of the virus and a limited supply of vaccine.
The most affected countries are the United States, India, Brazil and those in Europe. Based on information from the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Center, more than 2.1 million people have died from COVID-19.
Currently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there is no evidence that new variants of coronavirus cause more serious illness or increased risk of death.
However, the CDC adds that scientists are still trying to understand how easily the new forms can spread. They also want to know if they can cause a more serious disease or if currently approved vaccines will protect people from it.
Three of the new coronavirus variants were found to come from three countries: Great Britain, South Africa and Brazil.
B.1.1.7 variant from Great Britain
In Great Britain, a coronavirus variant known as B.1.1.7 was first recognized in September 2020. It spread rapidly in the south of Great Britain, including London. It has since spread across Europe, the United States and Canada.
Health organizations say this variant spreads more easily and faster than others. But there is no evidence that it causes more serious illness or an increased risk of death.
South African 501Y.V2 variant
Another variant named 501Y.V2 was found in South Africa in early October. Cases have been caused by this variant in 20 countries, including Australia and Canada, but not in the US.
The variant is also known as B.1.351 and shares some genetic changes similar to those found in Great Britain. Scientists are concerned that antibodies from a small number of people who recovered from COVID-19 or received a vaccine were less effective against this variant.
P.1 variant from Brazil
The P.1 coronavirus variant was first identified in four travelers from Brazil who were tested at Haneda Airport outside Tokyo in January. However, the variant could have existed in Brazil much earlier and has spread to many countries, including Germany and South Korea. This week, the US also confirmed its first case of the variant in Minnesota.
The CDC says early evidence shows that antibodies from a coronavirus infection or vaccine may not be able to recognize the P.1 variant.
What causes the variants?
Like other viruses, the CDC says that SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, is always changing and all the while changing. Sometimes new variants appear and disappear. Other times, new variants appear and spread across many countries.
Daniel Rhoads is a microbiologist and pathologist at the Cleveland Clinic. He said, “While this is worrying, it is not really surprising – we have been looking forward to this and more or less expecting it.”
Earlier in the pandemic, other variants appeared, including D614G and L452R. However, the new variants are now receiving attention because they seem to spread more easily and more quickly, which could lead to more cases of COVID-19. Another concern is whether approved vaccines like those from Pfizer and BioNTech or Moderna could be effective against them.
Caitlin Rivers is an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. She told the Associated Press, “I’m afraid the variants will give us a curveball.” This means that the variant can pose an unexpected and difficult problem.
The US government’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said scientists are studying vaccination measures to deal with the new variants.
Moderna announced on Monday that it is an additional test booster of his vaccine against the new variants. Pfizer, which makes a similar COVID-19 vaccine, said its study shows the shot is effective against the variant in Britain, but questions remain about those in South Africa and Brazil.
American drug company Johnson and Johnson plan to report on its vaccine research next week. The late stage trials are being conducted in the United States, South Africa and Brazil. Scientists expect the results to show how well it works against the new variants.
What can be done?
The CDC says it is working with other public health agencies to monitor closely monitor the situation and look for new COVID-19 variants. It also has workers on site to study and investigate the new variants.
The health agency advises that increasing public health measures such as vaccination, physical distance, use of cloth upholstery and hand washing will help limit the spread of the new variants.
On Tuesday, the US announced that it has banned travelers from Europe, Great Britain, Brazil, Ireland and South Africa. Other countries on the limited list include China and Iran.
In Europe, Belgium banned all non-essential travel until March. And France could start a third lockdown soon if the 12-hour daily curfew doesn’t slow the spread of new infections.
I am Mario Ritter, Jr. and I am Jonathan Evans.
Hai Do wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.
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Words in this story
variant –N. something that differs in some minor ways from others of the same kind
booster –N. an extra amount of medicine or vaccine that increases resistance to disease
to monitor –V. to carefully watch or observe over time for a special purpose
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