Should America be worried about the new Covid variants despite vaccination availability?
With restrictions lifting and no calls for their return, should we be worried about potential fallout and maintain personal precautions?
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Answers ( 1 )
Yes, America should be worried. I read a report today that the new variants have broken through two of the three vaccines. What that may mean is that people who've been vaccinated may be infected, but asymptomatic, but they could carry and spread. So, an opinion I read from someone who's been doing statistics right from the beginning is that the variant is more risky for the unvaccinated - they won't see symptoms from a carrier. So, at least in my opinion, we're back near the beginning again for those unvaccinated. While the vaccine does afford protection - and that's the most important part - a vaccinated person may transmit a variant. Oh woe.
Sadly, I can't take the current vaccines, they advised against it because of my health history. So, for right now, vaccinated people are generally safe, but if anyone comes into contact with an infected person, they should again self-isolate. Just as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge did in the UK. She is vaccinated but was exposed, so she immediately went into in isolation once she was informed.
Now the UK, and in particular the Royal Family are staying aggressively on top of it because of the public engagements of the family. Most of us aren't that vigilant. What the UK rule is to self-isolate for 10 days after exposure - and that constitutes spending extended time, meaning more than 5 minutes in close proximity of about 6 feet with a person who's tested positive. So what would be best at this point is to continue social distancing, continue wearing a mask if going to be in a closed area and close proximity to others. And for short times outdoors, no mask should be required, but if you are going to spend extended time - like at an outdoor event, sitting for more than an hour among people, then a mask would be advisable, and yes, even if it's outdoors.
We're not getting over this as fast as we'd hoped, there will be variants, there will be waves of infections coming round. It's just better to remain vigilant and safe for the duration. I know we all want this to be over, but wanting it is not having it.. I had to travel by road the last two weeks, for quite a long road trip back and forth. What I found surprising was how few people were wearing masks in travel centers, rest areas and shops. I was going to family, who have been vaccinated, but honestly, when I got a sore throat on my return trip, I was damn worried, so I'm being extra vigilant, and self-isolating now that I've gotten back home, just to be safe.