New virus variants found in County Weld – Greeley Tribune

Two variants of the virus responsible for COVID-19 have been found in County Weld, including the most contagious UK variant.

The Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment issued a press release on Thursday warning of the new variants. Mutated viruses are B.1.1.7, commonly referred to as the United Kingdom (UK) variant, and L452. Multiple variants of the virus are circulating around the world.

Some viruses change by mutation, creating new variants over time. Some will emerge and then disappear, while others may spread more easily and quickly. Research is ongoing to determine how easily these variants spread, but current evidence shows that the UK variant spreads more easily than the original virus.

The Associated Press reported on Wednesday that Dr Rochelle Walensky, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters that the UK variant has already been identified in more than 40 states. The CDC website notes that British experts reported in January that the variant may be associated with an increased risk of death compared to other variants, but more studies are needed to confirm the finding.

State and county health officials are collaborating to conduct contact tracing of those identified and exposed to the new variants. Asked how many residents the variant viruses were found in and in which communities, a spokesperson for Weld Health said “everything was still under investigation.” More details could be released in the next week, he added.

The CDC recently updated the masking guidelines to encourage doubling of layers: recommending a fabric mask with multiple layers of fabric or a disposable mask under a fabric mask. The New York Times recently reported that laboratory experiments found that viral transmission could be reduced by 96.5% if Americans wore tight-fitting surgical masks or a combination of fabric and surgical mask.

CDC research indicates that the current COVID-19 vaccine provides protections against emerging variants, but more studies are needed, according to the county press release. As vaccines continue to be available, authorities are encouraging the public to get vaccinated for free. Vaccines are currently being provided for phase 1B.2, which began on February 8. The phase includes people aged 65 to 69 and educators from kindergarten to 12th grade including teachers, student teachers, bus drivers, school catering services, educators. in accredited programs, administrative and support staff, security staff and staff of other support services offered in schools.

Vaccines are also provided to people aged 70 and over. The state operates a hotline for residents who have questions about COVID-19 vaccines at 1-877-CO VAX CO (1-877-268-2926).