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BURLINGTON, Vermont (WCAX) – Vermont health officials responded on Friday to news that the UK variant of COVID-19 had been detected in wastewater samples from Burlington, indicating that the most contagious mutation is now present in the community.
Vermont Health Commissioner Dr Mark Levine said he was not surprised the variant potentially found its way to Vermont and has been planning this for some time. “Hearing this news doesn’t really mean we have to change everything we do, we just need to do it even better,” Levine said.
The samples containing two mutations were from Burlington’s main wastewater treatment plant, which covers the city’s downtown, Old North End, South End and parts of Hill Section. Levine says the variant is probably present here. If state tests confirm the results, Vermont will join 34 other states in having the present variant.
Dr Levine says the UK, or variant B.1.1.7, could even become the predominant strain of COVID in the US. “Mutations and variations are expected over time. The reason the B.1.1.7 variant is of concern is because it is considered to be more transmissible and could lead to more cases of COVID-19, as well as potentially more hospitalizations or death, ”Levine said.
The state of Vermont will spend the next week performing genomic sequencing of the virus of covid-positive individuals to officially confirm the presence of the variant that some studies find 30 to 40% more contagious.
People we spoke to in Burlington said they were worried, but were already very careful not to spread the virus. “I’ve been pretty careful myself being from Vermont, we have pretty strict guidelines in the first place, so getting used to that really helps,” said Ian Anglum of Manchester.
“I have a hard time walking around in double mask, but I think double mask is also very effective if you are in a grocery store or indoors anywhere. I think it’s really worth it, ”said Sophia Merageas of Burlington.
Dr Levine said he agreed with the CDC’s findings this week that double-masking could be very protective against transmission of the virus, in addition to other precautions last year.
Related story:
Burlington wastewater testing finds UK variants of COVID
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