New COVID strain to account for ‘majority’ of cases by March

Former FDA commissioner Dr Scott Gottlieb predicted on Sunday that the contagious new strain of COVID-19 will account for the “majority” of cases in the United States by March.

“By some estimates, the new variant probably accounts for about 1 percent of all infections in this country. By March, that will be the majority of infections, ”Gottlieb said on CBS’s“ Face the Nation ”.

Gottlieb said he will “grow up quickly” and that his arrival adds additional pressure to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are distributed as soon as possible.

“I think the existence of this new variant that spreads more easily really creates more urgency to try to get this vaccine out faster and get more people vaccinated – even though it’s a more general population,” he said. Gottlieb said.

“There is currently a lot of excess demand for the vaccine, especially among the elderly. I think we should think about moving quickly through these steps that we have defined and starting more quickly to adopt a general immunization program for people 65 years and over, ”he continued.

At least three states – Colorado, California and Florida – have confirmed cases of the new strain of coronavirus, which first appeared in the UK.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned that the new variant of the coronavirus could be 70% more transmissible than other known strains.