Thread by @Laurie_Garrett

ATTN, New Yorkers: There's a new type of #SARSCoV2 in town -- a mutant that may outwit our #COVID19 #vaccines.
Here's what we know so far:
1.) A @Caltech team has been screening viral samples from USA and noted a new mutant appeared in November in NYC, dubbing it B.1.526.
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2/ The @Caltech team says B.1.526 variant is spreading fast in NYC, now ='ing 27.8% of all new infections.
This virus has 2 key mutations that may make it dangerous. Both, alter the spike proteins that protrude from #SARSCoV2 & attach to human cells.
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biorxiv.org/content/10.110…

3/ One mutation in NY's B.1.526 variant form of #SARSCoV2 is E484K -- this is the mutation point that makes the so-called South African and Brazil variants capable of evading antibodies and rendering some of the #COVID19 #vaccines far less effective.
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4/ The other mutation in B.1.526 variant is to a spike protein position called S477N -- and this could have profound impact on spread of #COVID19 in NYC. S477N mutations make the virus cling 10Xs more strongly to cells that line the nose and throat.
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biorxiv.org/content/10.110…

5/ The S477N mutation could mean that people's noses fill up with viruses. It's a location from which viruses spread to other people with simple, normal breathing -- unless proper masks are covering the nose. And it's a location where different components of the immune syst.
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6/ ...dominate: not so much of the IgG neutralizing Abs produced w/vax. That MIGHT (caution) mean that even vaccinated people could carry and pass the new B.1.526 variant to others.
In basic terms, what does this mean for you, if you live in NYC?
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nytimes.com/2021/02/24/hea…

7/ Let me illustrate the signif w/a quick anecdote. Last night I was watching a neighbor sing from his stoop. A stranger jumped in front of me, loosely masked, eclipsing my safe 6' distancing. I said "Hey - 6 feet!" She laughed, refused to budge & said, "I'm vaccinated!"
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8/ Well, I said, "that's swell for you, but what about others? You could be a carrier, and spread virus to OTHERS. Don't you care?"
She waved me off and laughed at me.
So we are at a tough juncture, Ladies & Gentlemen. As more people get vax'ed, social distancing relaxes...
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9/ Meanwhile, we have new B.1.526 mutant #SARSCoV2 circulating in NYC, jumping from <2% of viral samples collected in the City in November, to >27% now. And we are rolling out #COVID19 #vaccines . @NYGovCuomo is relaxing indoor dining, movies & other social distancing rules.
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10/ Please be careful, whether you're vaccinated or not. Wear those masks, not only to protect yourselves, but as a civic duty to protect others. The B.1.526 variant needs more study b4 we can say exactly how dangerous it is. Be prudent: assume it's bad.
nymag.com/intelligencer/…