(CMR) A new variant of COVID-19, which was identified in the UK, could also be in the United States.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the new strain identified by scientists last week in the UK could have already spread to the US or may even have originated there.
Dr. Fauci said travel to the UK was very prevalent, and he would not be surprised if the new variant of the virus was also identified in the US.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson introduced a new level of restrictions in some parts of the UK after the new variant, which spread 70 % faster, was identified by scientists.
Over 40 countries in Europe, Asia, South America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East have since banned travel from the UK.
Pfizer and Moderna, the two companies whose COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for use in the US, are now conducting tests to see if the vaccines are effective against the new strain spreading in the UK.
Both companies have expressed confidence that the vaccines would likely work against this new variant of COVID-19.
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