Dear Reader;

Worldometer, Dec 30: yesterday was an all-time pandemic record high of new cases in the UK, over 53 thousand new cases, almost 12 thousand more new cases than the previous record high of the day before. Yesterday was also an all-time pandemic record high of new deaths in the U.S., 3,717 new deaths.

USA Today, California reports first case of more contagious Covid-19 strain, Dec 30: “California has reported its first case of a more contagious Covid-19 variant first identified in the United Kingdom- the second confirmed case in the U.S… Scientists in the United Kingdom said the variant strain, known as B.1.1.7, is more contagious than previously identified strains but not more severe. According to models, it has an increased transmission rate of 70% compared with other variants in the U.K.

“The strain was first spotted in September in southeastern England and accounted for a quarter of cases in London by November. By the week of Dec. 9, it was responsible for 60% of cases in the city. As Britain cheered the emergency authorization Wednesday of a coronavirus vaccine produced by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, the government extended its highest tier of restrictions to three-quarters of England’s population, beyond London and the southeast to large swaths of central, northern and southwest England…

“The strain has been identified in France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore, India, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates…

“SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, mutates regularly and acquires about one new mutation in its genome every two weeks, according to the CDC. The U.K. variant has several mutations that affect the so-called “spiked protein” on the virus surface that attaches to human cells. ‘The overwhelming majority of mutations are irrelevant,’ Fauci said. ‘Every once in a while, you get a mutation that does impact the function of the virus. This particular mutation does in fact make the virus better at transmitting from one person to another.’

“Researchers believe current COVID-19 vaccines will likely protect against the new variant, but data is needed. The virus would ‘likely need to accumulate multiple mutations in the spike protein to evade immunity induced by vaccines or by natural infection,’ according to the CDC. ‘From what we know from experience with this mutation and other mutations, it’s unlikely to have a large impact on vaccine-induced immunity, or existing immunity from previous strains,’ said Dr. Greg Armstrong, director of the CDC’s Office of Advanced Molecular Detection…

“South Africa has also identified a strain similar to the one first identified in the U.K., but it emerged independently of the U.K. strain and is not related to it, according to the CDC. U.S. health officials said Wednesday they did not know if the South Africa strain was also circulating in the U.S.”

anita