The new, more-transmissible variant of COVID-19 is now confirmed in Washington state. Researchers from the University of Washington’s Medicine Virology Lab found the variant in two samples from Snohomish County, north of Seattle.
After sequencing 1,035 samples collected between Dec. 25 and Jan. 20, they detected the B.1.1.7 variant that was first identified in the United Kingdom in September.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the variant has been found in 195 samples across 22 states. Modeling by the agency predicts it could become the predominant variant in the country by March.
Dr. Umair Shah, Washington’s Secretary of Health, said it was “only a matter of time” before the variant would show up in Washington state.
“Now that this variant has been found, it underscores the absolute importance of doubling down on all the prevention measures to protect Washingtonians against COVID-19,” Shah said in a statement.
Scientists’ understanding of the B.1.1.7 variant is still evolving. The mutation is more easily spread, and there is evidence that infected people have a higher viral load, carrying perhaps 10 to 100 times more virus in their nose and throat. The variant might also be able to better latch onto cells, increasing the potential for infection. And the CDC is now apparently consulting with U.K. health experts to determine if the new variant is more deadly; reports from the BBC suggest that B.1.1.7 spreads between 30% and 70% faster and is possibly 30% more deadly.
There is also uncertainty about the new variant’s effect on the performance of vaccines currently being administered. Deborah Fuller, a professor of microbiology in the UW’s Department of Medicine who is working to develop a vaccine, explained earlier this month that researchers anticipated the virus would mutate and have worked to develop vaccines that target multiple sites. The two vaccines currently approved for use in the U.S. are 95% effective, so even if their performance is reduced, experts say they will still be beneficial.
Health agencies are tracking other variants of concern, including a strain found in South Africa and another detected in Brazil and Japan. Moderna on Monday announced that its COVID-19 vaccine “retains neutralizing activity” against the variants from the UK and South Africa, though its effectiveness is reduced against the latter.
At the same time, efforts to vaccinate people faster are ramping up. Washington state officials last week said they’re aiming to triple the current rate of vaccinations to 45,000 a day.
“It is absolutely critical for us to get vaccines out as fast as we can,” Shah said in a press conference Thursday.
Last week, Seattle-area businesses announced their efforts to support the vaccine push.
Microsoft is turning some space on its mostly-vacant Redmond campus into a vaccination site, and is providing technology expertise and support as part of the new Washington State Vaccine Command and Coordination Center. Amazon in partnership with Virginia Mason on Sunday hosted a one-day pop-up vaccine clinic at its Seattle meeting center.
Starbucks is helping the vaccine command center with “operational efficiency, scalable modeling and human-centered design expertise and support,” while Costco is helping with “vaccine delivery by pharmacies.”
Health officials advise that people continue practicing the measures already proven to control the spread of COVID, including wearing masks, practicing social distancing, washing hands and socializing outdoors in limited numbers. Some experts are encouraging people to double up and wear two masks, particularly when indoors.
New research on U.S. COVID infections bolsters the case for mask wearing and other protections. “The widespread reported use of face masks combined with physical distancing increases the odds of SARS-CoV-2 transmission control,” concluded a publication posted by The Lancet on Tuesday.
Washington state currently ranks 43rd nationwide for the number new infections, with 25 new daily cases per 100,000 residents, according to the New York Times. Oregon ranks 49th, while Hawaii has the lowest rate.
Since the virus was first detected in Washington a year ago, the state has totaled more than 300,000 infections and 4,114 deaths, as reported by the state’s Department of Health.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information on B.1.1.7.
