‘Super-Covid’ UK mutant strain spreads to 26 states – but South African variant not detected in US yet, CDC says

THE "Super-Covid" mutant strain from the United Kingdom has spread to 26 states – but the South African variant has not been detected in the United States yet, according to the CDC.

Dr Rochelle Walensky, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new director, revealed the data during the Biden administration's first Covid-19 briefing on Wednesday.



Speaking at the virtual meeting, Dr Walensky said: "Viruses mutate, and we have always expected that variants would emerge, and we have been looking for them."

She added: "The variants that have been identified recently seem to spread more easily.

"They're more transmissible, which can lead to increased number of cases, and increased stress on our already overtaxed system."

The CDC director said at least 307 people have tested positive for the highly contagious UK Covid variant – which was discovered in 26 states.

However, the deadly South African mutant Covid strain with potential hidden strains undetected has not yet been found in the US.

Noting a decrease in the nation's seven-day death average, Walensky explained the need for vigilance.

She said: "While I am encouraged by these trends, our case rates remain extraordinarily high, and now is the time to remain vigilant.


Meanwhile, Dr Walensky has revealed on the CDC is predicting around 479,000 to 514,000 coronavirus deaths by February 20.

"I know this is not news we all want to hear, but this is something we must say so we are all aware. But if we are united in action, we can turn things around," she added.

The coronavirus meeting comes as more than 25.4million Americans have tested positive for the virus since the start of the pandemic.

To date, at least 425,257 people have died from virus across the nation.

Dr Anthony Fauci and the White House Covid-19 Response Team held the virtual press conference on January 27, 2021, to update the public on the current pandemic.

Dr Fauci was joined by Walensky, Dr Marcella Nunez-Smith, Andy Slavitt, and Jeff Zients.

At Wednesday's press conference, Dr Fauci addressed three areas, therapeutics, vaccines and implications of the Covid variants.

"The federal government has been involved either in the development of and or the facilitation of the testing of a number of vaccines that represent three separate platforms," Fauci said while speaking about vaccines.

Fauci mentioned three other vaccines, Johnson & Johnson, Astrazeneca and Novavax, are in "various states of trail."

Dr Fauci highlighted the the importance of the upcoming three vaccines, because it will be looking at the "efficacy" of the jab against the South Africa and Brazil Covid variants.

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