The new COVID-19 variant has struck parts of the United States and Latin America after it first emerged in the UK and President-elect Joe Biden is rallying effort.
AFP reports that Colorado reported the first case of the new COVID-19 variant in the US. According to Governor Jared Polis, a man in his 20s carried the infection.
The new COVID-19 variant, called B.1.1.7, is deadlier. Health agencies have explained that while it is not necessary more severe, it spreads faster and more easily.
When the UK first spotted the mutated virus, they sounded an alarm. It led to many countries putting travel restrictions in place and preventing flights from Britain.
President-elect Joe Biden hopes to be able to rise up to the occasion as his first task as president of the United States will obviously be to find a way to stop the virus from spreading further.
Also read: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala says Nigeria will be able to access COVID-19 Vaccines from 2021
Speaking from his home in Delaware, Biden told citizens to be prepared for tougher times. He mentions that the critical periods of the COVID-19 new variant should last until March 2021 if everyone is united against it.
The United States has lost the most people to COVID-19 and since the new variant appeared, hospitalisations have increased.
Joe Biden also promised to ‘move Heaven and Earth’ to ensure that everyone is vaccinated against the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims that about 2.1 million people have been vaccinated. Meanwhile, Biden says that when he takes over on 20 January 2020, he will ensure 100 million vaccinations within 100 days.
There is also the fact that some people are afraid of taking COVID-19 vaccinations. With conspiracy theorists spreading unfounded claims on why the vaccinations are bad, authorities face a real uphill task.
This begs the question: will you take the COVID-19 vaccinations or not?
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