New coronavirus strains — some more contagious than the prevalent strain — continue to be identified across the globe. David Cennimo, a pediatric infectious disease expert and assistant professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, discusses what we know about the new variants and how to stay safe.
What do we know about the current variants?
The variant first seen in the United Kingdom is the most studied and the most well understood. It has been identified in the United States and is about 50 percent more contagious than the wild-type virus we have been seeing. There are other variants in South Africa, Brazil and possibly in the United States but that data is still being gathered. More recently, novel variants are being reported developing within the United States as would also be expected. To read the full story.