New coronavirus variant spotted in California raises alarm

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Two upcoming studies suggest that the variant, which virologists call B.1.427 / B.1.429, is not only more contagious, but can also cause more serious illness.

A team of scientists from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) tested virus samples from recent outbreaks in the state and found that the new variant was much more common. It was not seen in samples from September, but was found in half in late January.

One important caveat: the study is still in its infancy, has not been published or peer-reviewed, and needs more work.

The scientists say the variant has a different mutation pattern than the ones first seen in the UK and South Africa. One of its mutations affects the virus’s spike protein, which is the part that attaches to cells that the virus infects. Dr. Charles Chiu, associate director of the clinical microbiology laboratory at UCSF and the study’s leader, said the mutation could make the virus more efficient at coupling to cells, increasing infectivity.

Chiu’s team also found some evidence that it is more dangerous. The scientists said they observed “increased disease severity” associated with the new variant, including “increased risk of high oxygen demand.” Their report will be posted to a preprint server later this week after public health officials in San Francisco look at it.

New variants could cause complications in the United States in the coming weeks, even though infections are currently declining across the country and more people are getting vaccinated.

Public health experts fear that new variants will outpace vaccinations, which is why many have stressed the need to double down on safety measures such as wearing face masks, social distancing and avoiding crowded areas.

To date, more than 1,900 cases of coronavirus strains have been reported in the US and were first spotted in the UK, South Africa and Brazil, according to data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most of those cases – about 1,881 – are of the variant first identified in the UK that the CDC had previously warned could become the predominant species by next month.

YOU ASKED. WE ANSWER

Q: How should I prepare for my Covid-19 vaccination?

A: Wait for your turn to make an appointment and make sure to follow all instructions. Check if you need to fill out any paperwork in advance and bring all required documentation. Know what you need and make sure you have it.

Try to get all the information in advance. “You want to keep your time at the vaccination site as short as possible, and the people there are probably very busy and may not have the time to answer your questions in depth,” said CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and visiting professor at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. She said many answers can be found on the FAQ website about the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And yes, you absolutely must wear a mask during your appointment.

Send your questions hereAre you a health professional fighting Covid-19? Send us a message on WhatsApp about the challenges you are facing: + 1347-322-0415.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TODAY

Enter Covid-19’s new vaccine factory in Russia

The facility where Soviet scientists once researched biological weapons is now used for the mass production of a Covid-19 vaccine. Home to Generium Pharmaceutical, which has been contracted to scale up production of the Russian vaccine, Sputnik V, the massive high-tech complex in Volginsky, about 110 kilometers east of Moscow, is one of seven new plants across the country.

According to figures from the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Sputnik V has become one of the world’s most pre-ordered vaccines, with at least 30 countries signing contracts for nearly 2.5 billion doses. But demand among Russians for Sputnik V has turned out to be much less enthusiastic, Zahra Ullah and Matthew Chance report.
Vials of vaccine are packaged at the Generium Pharmaceutical factory.

Ghana is the first country to receive vaccines through COVAX

Ghana today receives the world’s first shipment of Covid-19 vaccines through the World Health Organization’s COVAX program, which aims to deliver vaccines to low- and middle-income countries that otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford them.

The country of 30 million people is receiving 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines produced by the Serum Institute of India. Ghana has reported at least 80,759 cases of Covid-19 and 582 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Last month, India and the African Union announced plans for the Serum Institute to deliver 400 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Africa. However, the global rollout of vaccines has been incredibly uneven: of the more than 212 million vaccine doses administered around the world, most went to people in wealthy countries.

US will receive 240 million vaccine doses by April

The United States could receive 240 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine by the end of March, drug companies told a House subcommittee Tuesday.

Pfizer and Moderna – the two companies with Covid-19 vaccines approved for emergency use in the United States – have pledged to make a total of 220 million doses available for shipment by the end of March. Meanwhile, Johnson & Johnson, which could obtain emergency authorization for its Covid-19 vaccine from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration later this week, has pledged to make 20 million doses available over the same period.

ON OUR RADAR

  • A study finding that teachers – not students – were the likely source of several school-related outbreaks of Covid-19 highlights the need to maintain safety precautions and prioritize teachers and school staff for vaccination, the CDC said.
  • The WHO reports the sixth consecutive week of declining global coronavirus cases.
  • The Philippines will employ nurses in Britain and Germany in exchange for vaccines against the coronavirus.
  • US President Joe Biden says his government will “likely” be sending millions of masks soon.
  • Some TV shows tell stories about the pandemic. Some viewers wish they wouldn’t.
  • A new app that allows travelers to store and manage their certifications for Covid-19 tests and vaccines will be launched next month.

TOP TIP

Quarantines, social distancing, distance learning, WFH … no wonder the pandemic has caused a massive spike in people feeling lonely.
There are ways to reduce loneliness, even with a lockdown. For example, this new research shows that talking to someone on the phone for 10 minutes several times a week can make a big difference – if you’re in control of the conversation.

TODAY’S PODCAST

“We found really new data on human cases in December, a lot more cases than we thought and a lot more cases not related to the market.” – Peter Daszak, Chairman of EcoHealth Alliance

Zoologist and EcoHealth Alliance President Peter Daszak has just returned from Wuhan, China. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, speaks to him about how things are there today and his findings as part of a World Health Organization investigation Listen now

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