This alone could protect against a new strain of COVID, study finds

The highly contagious British COVID strain has made its way into the United States, with cases occurring in at least 20 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency went so far as to predict that the variant, known as B.1.1.7, will become the predominant COVID strain in the United States by March. However, new research suggests that a particular vaccine may be able to protect you, so read on to find out how to protect yourself. And for more information on the spread of the new variant, read how the UK COVID strain is now in these states.

According to a preprint of the BioNTech study, which has not yet been peer reviewed, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine appears to be able to provide immunity against B.1.1.7 to those who receive it. The research, conducted by scientists in the Department of Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, found that the vaccine offered equivalent protection against a British laboratory variant as it did. against the non-mutant form of the virus. .

According to the study authors, this will make it “very unlikely that the British variant viruses will escape” the immunity conferred by the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

However, that’s not the only way to lower your risk – read on to find the steps that can help you avoid the new British strain. And for another safety tip, check out You Must Carry 2 At All Times, According To The CDC.

Wearing a mask when you are outside your home gives you and those around you some protection against COVID, wearing two is even better. According to Linsey Marr, PhD, virus transmission expert at Virginia Tech and co-author of a January 2021 report published in CellPress, by layering masks, “you start to achieve pretty high returns” against the spread of COVID. And for more on which masks you shouldn’t wear, check out the CDC Warns Against Using These 6 Face Masks.

While wearing a mask is essential in stopping the spread of COVID, that doesn’t mean you don’t have to stay away from others. Mask wearers who ignored social distancing recommendations were actually more likely to develop COVID than those who did not wear masks but had less contact, according to a January 2021 study by researchers at the University of Vermont. social. And to learn more about the signs you might be sick, know that if you notice this in your mouth, you could have COVID, experts are warning.

If you are driving a car with someone outside your home, it is essential that you also keep the windows open to promote adequate air circulation. However, a study published in Scientific advances reveals that opening the window next to you might not be the best solution. Instead, the study’s authors claim that opening the window farthest from you “seems to offer better protection.” And for the latest COVID news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.

You might think you are washing your hands enough to protect yourself from COVID, but research indicates otherwise. According to the CDC, 29.4 percent of people forget to wash their hands before eating at a restaurant; 28.8 percent do not wash them after coughing, sneezing or blowing their nose; 25.6 percent do not wash them before eating at home; 14.3 percent do not wash them before preparing food at home; 10.4 percent don’t wash them after using the bathroom at home; and 5.2 percent don’t wash them after using a public restroom – all critical times for practicing hand hygiene to stop the spread of COVID. And find out more about what you can Stop To avoid the virus, check out these 2 COVID precautions may not be necessary after all, according to a new study.