Thread by @celinegounder

1/ New COVID variants are emerging:
- B.1.1.7 from the UK: more transmissible, possibly more virulent. Even if not more virulent, more transmissible = more infections, more disease, more hospitalizations, more death.

2/
- 501Y.V2 from South Africa: immune response elicited by both natural infection & vaccines may be blunted with lower neutralizing antibody activity BUT the Pfizer/Moderna vaccines still appear to be effective. We should soon have data on the AstraZeneca and J&J vaccines, too.

3/ P.1 from Brazil: More transmissible like B.1.1.7 variant from UK. Blunted immune response like 501Y.V2 variant from South Africa. washingtonpost.com/world/2021/01/…

4/ All three COVID variants are here in the U.S.
- B.1.1.7 from UK: cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/7…
- P.1 from Brazil: washingtonpost.com/health/brazil-…
- 501Y.V2 from South Africa: scdhec.gov/index.php/news…

5/ The CDC has predicted that the B.1.1.7 variant from the UK will likely become the dominant strain the U.S. by March. sciencenews.org/article/corona…

6/ The more we allow the infection to spread, the more it has a chance to mutate, the more variants will arise. It is urgent that we stop transmission.

7/ In addition to accelerating vaccine rollout, we have to double down on masking (and double-masking), social distancing, keeping to household bubbles, socializing outdoors not indoors, and enhancing indoor ventilation. today.com/video/dr-fauci…