COVID variant is here

#Middlebury #COVID19 #Coronavirus

By MARJORIE NEEDHAM

Nearly a year after we began masking up, social distancing and washing our hands frequently, a new challenge has presented itself: double masking. With the arrival in Connecticut of the U.K. variant of the COVID-19 virus, more and more officials are suggesting double masking, at least when we are around groups of other people.

The race to vaccinate Connecticut residents against COVID-19 took on new urgency when health officials confirmed the U.K. variant of the virus had arrived in the state. Governor Lamont confirmed the first two cases January 7. He said the two individuals infected are between the ages of 15 and 25 and both reside in New Haven County. Both had recently traveled outside Connecticut – one to Ireland and the other to New York State – and both developed symptoms within 3 to 4 days of their return.

On January 25, Lamont announced the number of confirmed cases had risen to eight Those infected live in New Haven (2), Oxford (3), and West Haven (3) and range in age from 15 to 50. The four newly identified individuals live in New Haven and Oxford, though only two live in the same household. Other than the two from the same household, there does not appear to be a link among any of the eight individuals.

The U.K. variant is 50% more transmissible than the original virus; it also may be more deadly even though that at first did not appear to be the case. Fifty percent more transmissible may not sound like much to the average person, but Dr. F. Perry Wilson of Yale School of Medicine explained in a January 22 WTNH interview why it has health officials nervous.

Dr. Perry said we tend to think it means 50% more people will be infected, but that is not the case. Since viruses spread exponentially, one person infects 50% more people than the original virus and then they each infect 50% more people.

He said 1,000 people infected with the current COVID-19 virus, with masks and social distancing, could potentially infect 2,500 people in 10 cycles (which takes two to three months). With the U.K. variant, 1,000 infected people could potentially infect 55,000 people after 10 cycles.

Wilson told WTNH that, even at the same mortality rate, there would be a 20-fold increase in the number of deaths. He said that’s why it’s so scary and “something we all need to focus on to beat quickly.”

The newspaper publishes COVID-19 updates weekdays as soon as possible after the data release around 4 p.m. Find those reports at bee-news.com.

Based on our daily reports, Middlebury has had 77 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and seven more deaths from January 1 to 25. Middlebury deaths to date total 18. In December, Middlebury had 213 new confirmed cases.

Middlebury First Selectman Edward B. St. John, in his weekly message to residents, encourages them to wear masks at the transfer station as clusters can be formed where people are grouped together in settings without masks.

Find information on COVID-19, testing, vaccinations and more at portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus. The closest testing site for Middlebury residents is at Quassy Amusement Park at 2132 Middlebury Road in Middlebury. It is open Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is available for those 4 and older with or without symptoms.

Testing also is offered at a number of area locations. They are listed on the state portal, where there is a tool to enter your zip code and get a complete listing of test centers.

The state website says three types of tests are available for COVID-19: nucleic acid (PCR test) and antigen (rapid) tests are used to diagnose a person with current infection with the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and an antibody test that helps determine if someone was infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the past.

It advises if you are having symptoms for COVID-19, or are not sick but have had unprotected prolonged close contact with someone with COVID-19, you should have a nucleic acid (PCR) diagnostic test.