Forbes - The British Variant

Plus: Despite Covid warnings, holiday travel breaks records

A new variant of SARS-CoV-2, called N501Y, is rapidly spreading across the U.K. What’s different about this variant of the virus, and is it more dangerous? Here’s what we do know: it’s common for viruses to mutate, and often a virus mutates to become less dangerous. However, we still don’t know if this is the case with the N501Y. Unfortunately, right now what we don’t know is more than what we do know. We don’t know if this variant spreads more easily than the “normal” Covid-19 that has traveled around the world, and we don’t know if this will impact how effective new vaccines are.

Many world leaders are taking the cautious route, and banning travel from the U.K. until more information about the situation is understood. The U.S., on the other hand hasn’t taken this step yet, but officials have said they are monitoring the situation closely. Meanwhile, President-elect Biden received his dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine today on live television; no word yet on whether President Trump has also been vaccinated. 

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Science & Health

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On The Upside

Healthcare Harmony: This virtual Carnegie Hall performance was put on to honor doctors, nurses and other professionals fighting Covid-19.