UK authorities had to put southeast England in a hard quarantine over the weekend after discovering a new, more infectious strain of coronavirus spreading through the population.
LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine Professor Dr. Fred Lopez said with the vaccine rollout underway it’s vital those in the area be tested rigorously.
“It’s important to see people who have been vaccinated there to find out if their antibodies are developing against the new strain,” said Lopez.
Other concerns include fears that current diagnostic tests and antibody treatments may not be as effective against this new strain.
Lopez warned it is quite possible this new strain could cross the Atlantic and begin plaguing the US. For example, the pandemic may have begun in China, but most of the strains that washed over America came from Europe.
“We know that these viruses can travel anywhere, it’s as easy as being on a plane,” said Lopez.
While reports indicate it is at least 70 percent more infectious it does not appear to be any more deadly.
Lopez said healthcare professionals have a lot of work to do containing and studying the new strain, but for the general public, the best way you can help limit the impact of this new strain is to keep on masking up and social distancing.
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