UPDATE: Countries are scrambling to contain a new variant of #coronavirus that's reportedly more contagious. Some key points: 1/
Mutations are expected. This variant was detected months ago and there's no evidence it's more deadly or resistant to recently-authorized our vaccines. Viruses are constantly drifting into new shapes and the vaccinated immune system has a variety of ways to contain it. 2/
To justify lockdowns and travel bans, some are citing a figure that the new variant is 70% more contagious. How did we arrive at that number? It's based on mathematical modeling, not experimental evidence. Founder effects confound our interpretation of this noisy data. 3/
You can watch the presentation where a researcher from Imperial College suggests the new varian is 70% more contagious. His talk begins at 2:37:05. Transmissibility is discussed six minutes in. I'm certainly not convinced that it's 70% & neither is he. 4/:
Takeaway: This variant is not a surprise. We can update vaccines if and when that's necessary. Far more experimental data is necessary before we attribute transmissibility to a mutation and not human behavior.
I'll discuss this new viral variant on @FoxBusiness today at 9am EST.
I'll discuss this new viral variant on @FoxBusiness today at 9am EST.
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