RICHMOND, Virginia (WRIC) – Experts say a safe reopening in Virginia depends on a race between COVID-19 variants and vaccines. The state is working to increase resources to track these new pressures, but the challenges remain.
The centers for disease control and prevention are There are now five “worrying variants” to follow. Two California tribes were added to the list just this week.
Compared to the coronavirus, which was first detected in China, these variants have mutations that can cause more serious illnesses, increase transmission, require different treatment approaches or reduce the effectiveness of vaccines, according to the CDC.
Data analysts advising Governor Ralph Northam’s administration B.1.1.7 – a variant first discovered in the UK – is well on its way to becoming the dominant variety in Virginia by the end of March.
What this means is not yet entirely clear.
“If the Virginians relax their behavior while new varieties take hold, the summer could bring another high point, roughly as high as what we saw earlier this year,” the researchers wrote in their latest update. “To avoid another high point, we need to give vaccines time to take effect, especially as new varieties are emerging across the country.”
according to to a CDC databaseTo date, at least 49 cases of coronavirus have been caused by the British variant in Virginia, and 20 cases have been linked to a South African strain.
Logan Fink, a senior scientist with the Consolidated Laboratory Services Division (DCLS) in Virginia, is part of an international data collection coalition that seeks to keep variants under control.
“Right now we are in a race between variants and vaccines. We want enough people to be vaccinated to prevent the spread, but if it spreads faster it will hamper our efforts and make this pandemic last a little longer, ”said Fink.
Dr. Denise Toney, director of DCLS, said the state lab was one of the first in the nation to start sequencing the virus back in March 2020 when the focus was on speeding up coronavirus testing. At the time, she said that variants were not widely recognized as a problem, but getting started early is proving beneficial.
“It helped us identify mutations faster because we had data to compare them to,” said Toney. “We recognize that we are seeing an increase in variations in our community and there is a great desire to keep tracking those variations.”
DCLS lead scientist Dr. Lauren Turner said the state lab is currently prioritizing sequencing samples associated with outbreaks, travel, unusually severe symptoms, a second infection, or post-vaccination cases.
Turner said around 150 to 200 samples per month would be sequenced at the start of the pandemic. It is currently estimated that 400-600 samples are processed each month.
“Because of the emergence of these variants and the importance of these variants, we are further increasing capacity with the new goal of producing between 1,000 and 1,600 samples per month,” said Turner. “We assume that this capacity will be available in about six months.”
Toney said they are in the process of hiring additional staff and ordering new automated equipment that the lab can use to achieve this goal.
However, Toney said they encountered known issues that initially slowed the state’s urge to step up testing.
“I think the challenge is to get the equipment quickly. We have placed orders, but many states are trying to buy similar instruments, ”Toney said. “The big picture, one of the things we need to realize is that investing in public health is so important.”
Meanwhile, Fink said the Virginians should continue to use the same prevention strategies that got us to this point: wash your hands, wear a mask, keep your distance, and get vaccinated when your turn comes.
“The measures that have been taken to contain the spread of this virus in general are still effective against the variants,” said Fink.
