US reports record number of coronavirus variant cases

The United States on Sunday reported a record 306 cases of the coronavirus variants, with the majority concentrated in Florida, Michigan and Texas, USA Today reported.

The new cases included 104 new infections in Florida, for a total of 605 in that state; 85 in Michigan, for a total of 421; and 41 in Texas, for a total of 102. Although various new strains are known to circulate in the United States, the majority of cases of new and existing variants are B.1.1.7. strain native to UK. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the British strain could become the most prevalent in the country within the next month.

Overall, coronavirus cases declined in February after reaching an all-time high in January, but there are signs the decline is slowing or reversing. The majority of states on Sunday reported an increase in the number of cases over the past week for the first time in more than a month.

The variants and trends come as the United States continues to administer the coronavirus vaccine. Over the weekend, Johnson & Johnson began distributing their vaccine after receiving emergency use clearance and became the third vaccine available.

The White House said Johnson & Johnson will have their vaccines on distribution sites as early as Tuesday and will distribute millions of single-shot vaccines across the country over the next week, along with existing Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. CDC data indicates that just under 50 million Americans have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Anthony FauciAnthony Fauci’SNL ‘considers Fauci as game show host, giving vaccines to winners of Sunday shows – Trump re-emergence, COVID-19 vaccines and their variants dominate Fauci sets schedule for adolescent and child immunization MORE, the country’s leading infectious disease specialist, said the vaccines would be widely effective against emerging mutations.

“When you get a variant that decreases the potency of the vaccine, when you get a good vaccine… you can’t necessarily get the best possible response, but that stays in the effectiveness cushion,” Fauci told CNN. of the Union ”Sunday.