MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Shelby County health officials said they are concerned about the variant strains of the coronavirus that have been detected in the county.
During the Memphis/Shelby County Joint COVID-19 Task Force meeting Tuesday, David Sweat, Chief of Epidemiology with the Shelby County Health Department, confirmed they had detected four cases of the P1 strain out of Brazil.
Health officials are urging people across the Mid-South to get vaccinated to help mitigate this form and any other strains of the coronavirus.
“Please go out and get a vaccine. That’s more important now than ever. We have found new variants in Shelby County,” Mayor Lee Harris said.
Dr. Manoj Jain added, “I know we want to be done with the virus, but unfortunately the virus is done with us.”
Meanwhile, the variant from the U.K. continues to inch closer to becoming the dominant strain. As of now, it’s making up 30 to 50 percent of the new cases in Shelby and it’s predicted that it will surpass the original strain in the number of new cases by April.
The U.K. variant is 50 percent more transmissable when compared to the original virus out of China. The vaccines have shown to be effective against this variant and it does increase mortality.
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The P1 variant on the other hand is 200 percent more transmissible than the original and can create havoc in a community very quickly, said Dr. Manoj Jain, the infectious disease expert to Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland.
“It can create havoc very quickly as it’s done many cities in Brazil. There’s another trait to the P1, which is worrisome that it can evade the vaccine and if you had previous infection it can cause reinfection,” Dr. Jain said.
To make matters even more concerning, this variant has been shown to have the ability to evade the vaccine and can re-infect those who have been vaccinated as well as those who have had COVID before.
“It’s been a very long year and I know that we want to be done with the virus, but unforunately the virus is not done with us,” said Dr. Jain.
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But there is some good news when it comes to the P1 strain, health officials said. That specific variant has just begun seeding in our community, meaning if actions are taken now it can be contained before it becomes widespread.
Health officials continue to gather several times a week to determine the best course of action to take to make that happened.
Dr. Jain said the most important thing residents can do is wear your mask, get vaccinated and continue to social distance as much as possible.
If you would like to schedule a vaccination appointment in Shelby County, click here.