COVID-19 Variants in the US

Fighting COVID-19 has been a lot like participating in a seasoned chess match. For every strong move we make, the coronavirus has one more trick we never saw coming. Of course, all viruses mutate, but few have stayed so far ahead of us at every turn. Most often, mutations actually weaken the virus to allow the host to survive so the virus can propagate. But this is COVID-19 and all expectations need to be set aside. Variants of this virus have cropped up in multiple areas of the world so we're dealing with many variants at once on top of the primary virus we're not yet done with. And these are mutations that could undermine every effort we’ve made so far to contain this pandemic. As you probably know, those strains have hit the United States. So here's what that could mean.

Mutations From 3 Separate Continents

Viruses mutate regularly, with results that may or may not benefit them. Researchers have been monitoring SARS-CoV-2 strains for changes that affect their virulence, and according to the CDC, they’ve documented three variants worth noting:

• B.1.1.7 started in the UK and already has several mutations under it. This variant is easier to catch and may also increase risks for serious disease. It first appeared in the US in December of 2020.
• B.1.351 first occurred in South Africa around the same time B.1.1.7 first appeared. Although the two share some mutations, experts believe these variants arose independently of one another. B.1.351 first appeared in the US in January of 2021.
• P.1 first showed up in Japan, although officials believe travelers brought the strain from Brazil and therefore refer to it as the Brazilian variant. This variant may be better than other strains at hiding from the immune system. 

News reports have placed these strains in Colorado, California, Washington and Idaho, although they’re unlikely to stay isolated for long and could be anywhere. Experts are still uncertain as to whether these variants will affect current testing and vaccination efforts. Research investigating these and other problems is still underway.

Newest Strains May Have Mutated in US

Reports of numerous similar strains circulating throughout the US and beyond have begun to crop up. So far, researchers have documented seven distinct mutations they believe have occurred independently within the United States.

The new strains have spread quickly, with at least one, an Oregon variant, having cropped up in 12 US states and four other countries: Australia, Denmark, Switzerland and India. Researchers have called the sheer volume of similar mutations we’ve witnessed “remarkable.” But it's also important to remember that not every variant is going to worsen the pandemic. It helps to focus on what the CDC is watching most closely because they are able to sort the variants into categories for us so we know which are most concerning. 

The pandemic has stepped up its game, but we’re catching on. Experts worldwide are tracking and studying these new strains, and they’re getting ready for the next wave of attack. They're also studying which of the variants may be susceptible to current efforts and which will need new approaches such as vaccine boosters. We're definitely getting better at this. Hopefully, we won’t have to shift gears too drastically to get ahead of the virus’s next move.

In the meantime, recommendations are slightly modified as many experts now recommend double-masking and remind us to continue washing hands and staying distant. The better we do at listening to this advice, the sooner we can all get back to some semblance of normal.

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